Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 286 in total

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  1. WHO implementation workshop on guidelines on procedures and data requirements for changes to approved biotherapeutic products, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 25-26 June 2019
    Wadhwa M, Kang HN, Jivapaisarnpong T, WHO implementation workshop on guidelines on procedures and data requirements for changes to approved biotherapeutic products, Andalucia LR, Blades CDRZ, et al.
    Biologicals, 2020 May;65:50-59.
    PMID: 31959504 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2019.12.008
    The first global workshop on implementation of the WHO guidelines on procedures and data requirements for changes to approved biotherapeutic products adopted by the WHO Expert Committee in 2018 was held in June 2019. The workshop participants recognized that the principles based on sound science and the potential for risk, as described in the WHO Guidelines on post-approval changes, which constitute the global standard for product life-cycle management are providing clarity and helping national regulatory authorities in establishing guidance while improving time-lines for an efficient regulation of products. Consequently, the regulatory situation for post-approval changes and guideline implementation is changing but there is a disparity between different countries. While the guidelines are gradually being implemented in some countries and also being considered in other countries, the need for regional workshops and further training on post-approval changes was a common theme reiterated by many participants. Given the complexities relating to post-approval changes in different regions/countries, there was a clear understanding among all participants that an efficient approach for product life-cycle management at a national level is needed to ensure faster availability of high standard, safe and efficacious medicines to patients as per the World Health Assembly Resolution 67.21.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/standards*
  2. Fulltext Potential of Endophytic Diaporthe sp. as a New Source of Bioactive Compounds
    Nagarajan K, Tong WY, Leong CR, Tan WN
    J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2021 Apr 28;31(4):493-500.
    PMID: 32627761 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2005.05012
    Endophytic fungi are symbiotically related to plants and spend most of their life cycle within them. In nature, they have a crucial role in plant micro-ecosystem. They are harnessed for their bioactive compounds to counter human health problems and diseases. Endophytic Diaporthe sp. is a widely distributed fungal genus that has garnered much interest within the scientific community. A substantial number of secondary metabolites have been detected from Diaporthe sp. inhabited in various plants. As such, this minireview highlights the potential of Diaporthe sp. as a rich source of bioactive compounds by emphasizing on their diverse chemical entities and potent biological properties. The bioactive compounds produced are of significant importance to act as new lead compounds for drug discovery and development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/chemistry*
  3. Microalgae biorefinery: High value products perspectives
    Chew KW, Yap JY, Show PL, Suan NH, Juan JC, Ling TC, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2017 Apr;229:53-62.
    PMID: 28107722 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.01.006
    Microalgae have received much interest as a biofuel feedstock in response to the uprising energy crisis, climate change and depletion of natural sources. Development of microalgal biofuels from microalgae does not satisfy the economic feasibility of overwhelming capital investments and operations. Hence, high-value co-products have been produced through the extraction of a fraction of algae to improve the economics of a microalgae biorefinery. Examples of these high-value products are pigments, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins and anti-oxidants, with applications in cosmetics, nutritional and pharmaceuticals industries. To promote the sustainability of this process, an innovative microalgae biorefinery structure is implemented through the production of multiple products in the form of high value products and biofuel. This review presents the current challenges in the extraction of high value products from microalgae and its integration in the biorefinery. The economic potential assessment of microalgae biorefinery was evaluated to highlight the feasibility of the process.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/pharmacology
  4. Modulation of oncogenic transcription factors by bioactive natural products in breast cancer
    Hasanpourghadi M, Pandurangan AK, Mustafa MR
    Pharmacol Res, 2018 02;128:376-388.
    PMID: 28923544 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.09.009
    Carcinogenesis, a multi-step phenomenon, characterized by alterations at genetic level and affecting the main intracellular pathways controlling cell growth and development. There are growing number of evidences linking oncogenes to the induction of malignancies, especially breast cancer. Modulations of oncogenes lead to gain-of-function signals in the cells and contribute to the tumorigenic phenotype. These signals yield a large number of proteins that cause cell growth and inhibit apoptosis. Transcription factors such as STAT, p53, NF-κB, c-JUN and FOXM1, are proteins that are conserved among species, accumulate in the nucleus, bind to DNA and regulate the specific genes targets. Oncogenic transcription factors resulting from the mutation or overexpression following aberrant gene expression relay the signals in the nucleus and disrupt the transcription pattern. Activation of oncogenic transcription factors is associated with control of cell cycle, apoptosis, migration and cell differentiation. Among different cancer types, breast cancer is one of top ten cancers worldwide. There are different subtypes of breast cancer cell-lines such as non-aggressive MCF-7 and aggressive and metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells, which are identified with distinct molecular profile and different levels of oncogenic transcription factor. For instance, MDA-MB-231 carries mutated and overexpressed p53 with its abnormal, uncontrolled downstream signalling pathway that account for resistance to several anticancer drugs compared to MCF-7 cells with wild-type p53. Appropriate enough, inhibition of oncogenic transcription factors has become a potential target in discovery and development of anti-tumour drugs against breast cancer. Plants produce diverse amount of organic metabolites. Universally, these metabolites with biological activities are known as "natural products". The chemical structure and function of natural products have been studied since 1850s. Investigating these properties leaded to recognition of their molecular effects as anticancer drugs. Numerous natural products extracted from plants, fruits, mushrooms and mycelia, show potential inhibitory effects against several oncogenic transcription factors in breast cancer. Natural compounds that target oncogenic transcription factors have increased the number of candidate therapeutic agents. This review summarizes the current findings of natural products in targeting specific oncogenic transcription factors in breast cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/pharmacology*
  5. Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) methodology for optimization of extraction in natural products
    Maulidiani, Rudiyanto, Abas F, Ismail IS, Lajis NH
    Food Chem, 2018 Jun 01;250:37-45.
    PMID: 29412925 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.01.023
    Optimization process is an important aspect in the natural product extractions. Herein, an alternative approach is proposed for the optimization in extraction, namely, the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE). The approach combines the Latin hypercube sampling, the feasible range of independent variables, the Monte Carlo simulation, and the threshold criteria of response variables. The GLUE method is tested in three different techniques including the ultrasound, the microwave, and the supercritical CO2 assisted extractions utilizing the data from previously published reports. The study found that this method can: provide more information on the combined effects of the independent variables on the response variables in the dotty plots; deal with unlimited number of independent and response variables; consider combined multiple threshold criteria, which is subjective depending on the target of the investigation for response variables; and provide a range of values with their distribution for the optimization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/chemistry*
  6. Fulltext Screening for natural and derived bio-active compounds in preclinical and clinical studies: One of the frontlines of fighting the coronaviruses pandemic
    Khalifa SAM, Yosri N, El-Mallah MF, Ghonaim R, Guo Z, Musharraf SG, et al.
    Phytomedicine, 2021 May;85:153311.
    PMID: 33067112 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153311
    BACKGROUND: Starting December 2019, mankind faced an unprecedented enemy, the COVID-19 virus. The world convened in international efforts, experiences and technologies in order to fight the emerging pandemic. Isolation, hygiene measure, diagnosis, and treatment are the most efficient ways of prevention and intervention nowadays. The health organizations and global care systems screened the available resources and offered recommendations of approved and proposed medications. However, the search for a specific selective therapy or vaccine against COVID-19 remains a challenge.

    METHODS: A literature search was performed for the screening of natural and derived bio-active compounds which showed potent antiviral activity against coronaviruses using published articles, patents, clinical trials website (https://clinicaltrials.gov/) and web databases (PubMed, SCI Finder, Science Direct, and Google Scholar).

    RESULTS: Through the screening for natural products with antiviral activities against different types of the human coronavirus, extracts of Lycoris radiata (L'Hér.), Gentiana scabra Bunge, Dioscorea batatas Decne., Cassia tora L., Taxillus chinensis (DC.), Cibotium barometz L. and Echinacea purpurea L. showed a promising effect against SARS-CoV. Out of the listed compound Lycorine, emetine dihydrochloride hydrate, pristimerin, harmine, conessine, berbamine, 4`-hydroxychalcone, papaverine, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, monensin sodium, cycloheximide, oligomycin and valinomycin show potent activity against human coronaviruses. Additionally, it is worth noting that some compounds have already moved into clinical trials for their activity against COVID-19 including fingolimod, methylprednisolone, chloroquine, tetrandrine and tocilizumab.

    CONCLUSION: Natural compounds and their derivatives could be used for developing potent therapeutics with significant activity against SARS-COV-2, providing a promising frontline in the fighting against COVID-19.

    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/pharmacology*
  7. Fulltext Revealing the power of the natural red pigment lycopene
    Kong KW, Khoo HE, Prasad KN, Ismail A, Tan CP, Rajab NF
    Molecules, 2010 Feb 23;15(2):959-87.
    PMID: 20335956 DOI: 10.3390/molecules15020959
    By-products derived from food processing are attractive source for their valuable bioactive components and color pigments. These by-products are useful for development as functional foods, nutraceuticals, food ingredients, additives, and also as cosmetic products. Lycopene is a bioactive red colored pigment naturally occurring in plants. Industrial by-products obtained from the plants are the good sources of lycopene. Interest in lycopene is increasing due to increasing evidence proving its preventive properties toward numerous diseases. In vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies have demonstrated that lycopene-rich foods are inversely associated to diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and others. This paper also reviews the properties, absorption, transportation, and distribution of lycopene and its by-products in human body. The mechanism of action and interaction of lycopene with other bioactive compounds are also discussed, because these are the crucial features for beneficial role of lycopene. However, information on the effect of food processing on lycopene stability and availability was discussed for better understanding of its characteristics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/metabolism*
  8. Fulltext Systematic comparison of sets of (13)C NMR spectra that are potentially identical. Confirmation of the configuration of a cuticular hydrocarbon from the cane beetle Antitrogus parvulus
    Basar N, Damodaran K, Liu H, Morris GA, Sirat HM, Thomas EJ, et al.
    J Org Chem, 2014 Aug 15;79(16):7477-90.
    PMID: 25019530 DOI: 10.1021/jo5012027
    A systematic process is introduced to compare (13)C NMR spectra of two (or more) candidate samples of known structure to a natural product sample of unknown structure. The process is designed for the case where the spectra involved can reasonably be expected to be very similar, perhaps even identical. It is first validated by using published (13)C NMR data sets for the natural product 4,6,8,10,16,18-hexamethyldocosane. Then the stereoselective total syntheses of two candidate isomers of the related 4,6,8,10,16-pentamethyldocosane natural product are described, and the process is applied to confidently assign the configuration of the natural product as (4S,6R,8R,10S,16S). This is accomplished even though the chemical shift differences between this isomer and its (16R)-epimer are only ±5-10 ppb (±0.005-0.01 ppm).
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/chemistry*
  9. Fulltext Contemporary Approaches to the Discovery and Development of Broad-Spectrum Natural Product Prototypes for the Control of Coronaviruses
    Hanna GS, Choo YM, Harbit R, Paeth H, Wilde S, Mackle J, et al.
    J Nat Prod, 2021 Nov 26;84(11):3001-3007.
    PMID: 34677966 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00625
    The pressing need for SARS-CoV-2 controls has led to a reassessment of strategies to identify and develop natural product inhibitors of zoonotic, highly virulent, and rapidly emerging viruses. This review article addresses how contemporary approaches involving computational chemistry, natural product (NP) and protein databases, and mass spectrometry (MS) derived target-ligand interaction analysis can be utilized to expedite the interrogation of NP structures while minimizing the time and expense of extraction, purification, and screening in BioSafety Laboratories (BSL)3 laboratories. The unparalleled structural diversity and complexity of NPs is an extraordinary resource for the discovery and development of broad-spectrum inhibitors of viral genera, including Betacoronavirus, which contains MERS, SARS, SARS-CoV-2, and the common cold. There are two key technological advances that have created unique opportunities for the identification of NP prototypes with greater efficiency: (1) the application of structural databases for NPs and target proteins and (2) the application of modern MS techniques to assess protein-ligand interactions directly from NP extracts. These approaches, developed over years, now allow for the identification and isolation of unique antiviral ligands without the immediate need for BSL3 facilities. Overall, the goal is to improve the success rate of NP-based screening by focusing resources on source materials with a higher likelihood of success, while simultaneously providing opportunities for the discovery of novel ligands to selectively target proteins involved in viral infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/pharmacology*
  10. Fulltext Antibody-drug conjugates: the paradigm shifts in the targeted cancer therapy
    Aggarwal D, Yang J, Salam MA, Sengupta S, Al-Amin MY, Mustafa S, et al.
    Front Immunol, 2023;14:1203073.
    PMID: 37671162 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1203073
    Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, causing million of deaths each year globally. Conventional anti-cancer therapies are non-targeted and have systemic toxicities limiting their versatile applications in many cancers. So, there is an unmet need for more specific therapeutic options that will be effective as well as free from toxicities. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are suitable alternatives with the right potential and improved therapeutic index for cancer therapy. The ADCs are highly precise new class of biopharmaceutical products that covalently linked a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (binds explicitly to a tumor-associated surface antigen) with a customized cytotoxic drug (kills cancer cells) and tied via a chemical linker (releases the drug). Due to its precise design, it brings about the target cell killing sparing the normal counterpart and free from the toxicities of conventional chemotherapy. It has never been so easy to develop potential ADCs for successful therapeutic usage. With relentless efforts, it took almost a century for scientists to advance the formula and design ADCs for its current clinical applications. Until now, several ADCs have passed successfully through preclinical and clinical trials and because of proven efficacy, a few are approved by the FDA to treat various cancer types. Even though ADCs posed some shortcomings like adverse effects and resistance at various stages of development, with continuous efforts most of these limitations are addressed and overcome to improve their efficacy. In this review, the basics of ADCs, physical and chemical properties, the evolution of design, limitations, and future potentials are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products*
  11. Fulltext Cyanobacteria: Photoautotrophic Microbial Factories for the Sustainable Synthesis of Industrial Products
    Lau NS, Matsui M, Abdullah AA
    Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:754934.
    PMID: 26199945 DOI: 10.1155/2015/754934
    Cyanobacteria are widely distributed Gram-negative bacteria with a long evolutionary history and the only prokaryotes that perform plant-like oxygenic photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria possess several advantages as hosts for biotechnological applications, including simple growth requirements, ease of genetic manipulation, and attractive platforms for carbon neutral production process. The use of photosynthetic cyanobacteria to directly convert carbon dioxide to biofuels is an emerging area of interest. Equipped with the ability to degrade environmental pollutants and remove heavy metals, cyanobacteria are promising tools for bioremediation and wastewater treatment. Cyanobacteria are characterized by the ability to produce a spectrum of bioactive compounds with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antialgal properties that are of pharmaceutical and agricultural significance. Several strains of cyanobacteria are also sources of high-value chemicals, for example, pigments, vitamins, and enzymes. Recent advances in biotechnological approaches have facilitated researches directed towards maximizing the production of desired products in cyanobacteria and realizing the potential of these bacteria for various industrial applications. In this review, the potential of cyanobacteria as sources of energy, bioactive compounds, high-value chemicals, and tools for aquatic bioremediation and recent progress in engineering cyanobacteria for these bioindustrial applications are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/metabolism*
  12. Prioritization of natural extracts by LC-MS-PCA for the identification of new photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy
    Samat N, Tan PJ, Shaari K, Abas F, Lee HB
    Anal Chem, 2014 Feb 4;86(3):1324-31.
    PMID: 24405504 DOI: 10.1021/ac403709a
    Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative treatment for cancer that involves administration of a photosensitive drug or photosensitizer that localizes at the tumor tissue followed by in situ excitation at an appropriate wavelength of light. Tumour tissues are then killed by cytotoxic reactive oxygen species generated by the photosensitizer. Targeted excitation and photokilling of affected tissues is achieved through focal light irradiation, thereby minimizing systemic side effects to the normal healthy tissues. Currently, there are only a small number of photosensitizers that are in the clinic and many of these share the same structural core based on cyclic tetrapyrroles. This paper describes how metabolic tools are utilized to prioritize natural extracts to search for structurally new photosensitizers from Malaysian biodiversity. As proof of concept, we analyzed 278 photocytotoxic extracts using a hyphenated technique of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with principal component analysis (LC-MS-PCA) and prioritized 27 extracts that potentially contained new photosensitizers for chemical dereplication using an in-house UPLC-PDA-MS-Photocytotoxic assay platform. This led to the identification of 2 new photosensitizers with cyclic tetrapyrrolic structures, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of the metabolic approach.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/analysis*; Biological Products/isolation & purification; Biological Products/therapeutic use
  13. Fulltext Nucleotide sequence of Phaseolus vulgaris L. alcohol dehydrogenase encoding cDNA and three-dimensional structure prediction of the deduced protein
    Amelia K, Khor CY, Shah FH, Bhore SJ
    Pharmacognosy Res, 2015 Apr-Jun;7(2):203-8.
    PMID: 25829796 DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.150532
    Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are widely consumed as a source of proteins and natural products. However, its yield needs to be increased. In line with the agenda of Phaseomics (an international consortium), work of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generation from bean pods was initiated. Altogether, 5972 ESTs have been isolated. Alcohol dehydrogenase (AD) encoding gene cDNA was a noticeable transcript among the generated ESTs. This AD is an important enzyme; therefore, to understand more about it this study was undertaken.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products
  14. Fulltext Potassium aluminium sulphate (Alum) inhibits growth of human axillary malodor-producing skin flora in vitro
    Hassanain Al-Talib, Nur Izzati Syamimi Mohd Nasir, Hafizuddin Yaziz, Nur Fatihah Zulkafli, Nur Aqidah Adani, Ahmad Ikhwan Noor Rashidi, et al.
    Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2016;1:59-63.
    Axillary malodor is caused by microbial biotransformation of non-smelling molecules present in apocrine secretions, into volatile odorous molecules. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activities of potassium aluminium salts (alum) against four malodor-producing axillary bacterial flora, as an alternative natural product for reducing axillary malodor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products
  15. Indole Synthesis Using Silver Catalysis
    Clarke AK, Ho HE, Rossi-Ashton JA, Taylor RJK, Unsworth WP
    Chem Asian J, 2019 Mar 25.
    PMID: 30908897 DOI: 10.1002/asia.201900309
    Indoles are amongst the most important class of heteroaromatics in organic chemistry, being commonly found in biologically active natural products and therapeutically useful compounds. The synthesis of indoles is therefore important and several methods for their synthesis that make use of silver(I) catalysts and reagents have been developed in recent years. This Focus Review contains, to the best of our knowledge, a comprehensive coverage of silver-mediated indole forming reactions since the first reaction of this type was reported in 2004.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products
  16. Plant Extracts and their Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Kinases
    Gill MSA, Saleem H, Ahemad N
    Curr Top Med Chem, 2020;20(12):1093-1104.
    PMID: 32091334 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200224100219
    Natural Products (NP), specifically from medicinal plants or herbs, have been extensively utilized to analyze the fundamental mechanisms of ultimate natural sciences as well as therapeutics. Isolation of secondary metabolites from these sources and their respective biological properties, along with their lower toxicities and cost-effectiveness, make them a significant research focus for drug discovery. In recent times, there has been a considerable focus on isolating new chemical entities from natural flora to meet the immense demand for kinase modulators, and also to overcome major unmet medical challenges in relation to signal transduction pathways. The signal transduction systems are amongst the foremost pathways involved in the maintenance of life and protein kinases play an imperative part in these signaling pathways. It is important to find a kinase inhibitor, as it can be used not only to study cell biology but can also be used as a drug candidate for cancer and metabolic disorders. A number of plant extracts and their isolated secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids have exhibited activities against various kinases. In the current review, we have presented a brief overview of some important classes of plant secondary metabolites as kinase modulators. Moreover, a number of phytocompounds with kinase inhibition potential, isolated from different plant species, are also discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/metabolism; Biological Products/pharmacology*; Biological Products/chemistry
  17. Natural cholinesterase inhibitors from Myristica cinnamomea King
    Abdul Wahab SM, Sivasothy Y, Liew SY, Litaudon M, Mohamad J, Awang K
    Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2016 08 01;26(15):3785-92.
    PMID: 27236720 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.05.046
    A new acylphenol, malabaricone E (1) together with the known malabaricones A-C (2-4), maingayones A and B (5 and 6) and maingayic acid B (7) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the fruits of Myristica cinnamomea King. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and LCMS-IT-TOF analysis. Compounds 3 (1.84±0.19 and 1.76±0.21μM, respectively) and 4 (1.94±0.27 and 2.80±0.49μM, respectively) were identified as dual inhibitors, with almost equal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes inhibiting potentials. The Lineweaver-Burk plots of compounds 3 and 4 indicated that they were mixed-mode inhibitors. Based on the molecular docking studies, compounds 3 and 4 interacted with the peripheral anionic site (PAS), the catalytic triad and the oxyanion hole of the AChE. As for the BChE, while compound 3 interacted with the PAS, the catalytic triad and the oxyanion hole, compound 4 only interacted with the catalytic triad and the oxyanion hole.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/isolation & purification; Biological Products/pharmacology*; Biological Products/chemistry
  18. Emerging therapeutic potential of the iridoid molecule, asperuloside: A snapshot of its underlying molecular mechanisms
    Chan Y, Ng SW, Xin Tan JZ, Gupta G, Tambuwala MM, Bakshi HA, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2019 Nov 28;315:108911.
    PMID: 31786185 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108911
    Over the years, the attention of researchers in the field of modern drug discovery and development has become further intense on the identification of active compounds from plant sources and traditional remedies, as they exhibit higher therapeutic efficacies and improved toxicological profiles. Among the large diversity of plant extracts that have been discovered and explored for their potential therapeutic benefits, asperuloside, an iridoid glycoside, has been proven to provide promising effects as a therapeutic agent for several diseases. Although, this potent substance exists in several genera, it is primarily found in plants belonging to the genus Eucommia. Recent decades have seen a surge in the research on Asperuloside, making it one of the most studied natural products in the field of medicine and pharmacology. In this review, we have attempted to study the various reported mechanisms of asperuloside that form the basis of its wide spectrum of pharmacological activities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products
  19. Fulltext The Physicochemical Characteristics of Gelam Honey and Its Outcome on the Female Reproductive Tissue of Sprague-Dawley Rats: A Preliminary Study
    Ismail NH, Osman K, Zulkefli AF, Mokhtar MH, Ibrahim SF
    Molecules, 2021 Jun 02;26(11).
    PMID: 34199433 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113346
    Gelam honey (GH) is a prized natural product synthesized from the nectar of flowers from Gelam trees (Melaleuca sp.). Gelam is an evergreen tree species that grows in tropical regions such as Malaysia. GH is a multifloral honey with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the beneficial effect of GH on female reproductive tissue has yet to be substantiated. Herein, we investigated the effects of GH administration on the uterine and vaginal epithelial thickness of sexually mature Sprague-Dawley rats. Epithelia thickness could be an indicator of an atrophy manifesting as a symptom of a cardio syndrome. Rats were given oral doses of GH in four groups for 14 days; the lowest dose was 0.2 g GH/kg body weight (bw) rat/day and the highest dose was 8 g GH/kg bw rat/day. The physicochemical characteristics of GH were assessed through hydroxymethylfurfural and moisture content determination and sugar identification. GH attenuated the atrophy of the uterine and vaginal epithelia and increased the thickness of the endometrial stroma and endometrial surface endothelial layer. However, the dissonance observed in the effect of GH administration on the vaginal epithelium requires further investigation. Nevertheless, GH may have a strong potential in attenuating uterine and vaginal atrophies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/administration & dosage*; Biological Products/pharmacology; Biological Products/chemistry
  20. Exploring Antimicrobials from the Flora and Fauna of Marine: Opportunities and Limitations
    Venkateskumar K, Parasuraman S, Chuen LY, Ravichandran V, Balamurgan S
    Curr Drug Discov Technol, 2020;17(4):507-514.
    PMID: 31424372 DOI: 10.2174/1570163816666190819141344
    About 95% of earth living space lies deep below the ocean's surface and it harbors extraordinary diversity of marine organisms. Marine biodiversity is an exceptional reservoir of natural products, bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals and other potential compounds of commercial value. Timeline for the development of the drug from a plant, synthetic and other alternative sources is too lengthy. Exploration of the marine environment for potential bioactive compounds has gained focus and huge opportunity lies ahead for the exploration of such vast resources in the ocean. Further, the evolution of superbugs with increasing resistance to the currently available drugs is alarming and it needs coordinated efforts to resolve them. World Health Organization recommends the need and necessity to develop effective bioactive compounds to combat problems associated with antimicrobial resistance. Based on these factors, it is imperative to shift the focus towards the marine environment for potential bioactive compounds that could be utilized to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Current research trends also indicate the huge strides in research involving marine environment for drug discovery. The objective of this review article is to provide an overview of marine resources, recently reported research from marine resources, challenges, future research prospects in the marine environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/isolation & purification; Biological Products/pharmacology*; Biological Products/therapeutic use
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