Pharmacological aspects of fisetin

Over the past decades, epidemiological studies have concluded that a diet rich in plant-derived products plays a pivotal role in human health. Fisetin (3,3',4',7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a hydrophobic polyphenolic compound primarily found in edible plants (e.g. strawberry, blueberry, apple, grape, persimmon, kiwi, and cucumber). Various preclinical studies have revealed that fisetin exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-osteoporotic, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic properties. Therefore, the pharmacological in vitro and in vivo studies on fisetin are discussed in this review. Additionally, this review would be useful for further study regarding the potential of natural products, notably fisetin, and its therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of diseases.

A Phytopharmacological Review Of Dadim-punica Granatum Linn.

Punica granatum Linn. is a well-known nature power fruit rich in natural bioactive constituents, edible phytoestrogen like substances and other nutritional elements, grown all over the world from Iran to Mediterranean region and Central Asia. It is also described in Ayurveda as Dadim for treating Amlapitta, Raktapitta and used as Hridya and Atisaraghna. It is used for its good nutritive values generally used in the form of Avaleha, Swaras or Juices and Jellies. Several studies conducted previously showed that pomegranate exhibits antibacterial and antifungal activity. Description of pomegranate is being found since Vedic period. Pomegranate is mentioned in Rigveda also. Aacharya sushrut described pomegranate or Dadim (Sanskrit name) as a best fruit i.e. Shrestha under Phalavarga. According to Acharya Vagbhata, Dadim is also included in Shramghna and Hrudya Gana. In various studies in human and rodent models, pomegranate juice has been found to wield antiatherogenic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities. Several studies on the antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory and many more potential properties of various parts of pomegranate and its constituents have been already published. Many studies had proved the latent efficacy of pomegranate and its applications including male infertility, Alzheimer’s disease, and obesity. So, the present study aims to discuss the collective information on pomegranate which can provide a summary to study the diverse array of biological actions of pomegranate and thus provide easy accessibility for treating various common diseases.

Selenium: More than just a micronutrient mineral

Selenium is a micronutrient mineral found mainly in soils. Studies on selenium have increased rapidly worldwide especially after it has been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer in humans and animals. The exact mechanism of action on how selenium inhibits diseases, in particular cancer, is still unknown. To date, the use of selenium in preventing or treating diseases is limited. However, many aspects about the biochemistry of selenium have been identified. This article reviews a number of key clinical, experimental and epidemiological studies on selenium as an anti-carcinogenic agent for some types of cancers. Some nutritional information on selenium and its recommended intake are also included. More clinical and experimental studies are needed to confirm previous findings on the role of selenium as an anticarcinogenic agent.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Anti-Tumor Promoting Activities of Heat-Processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Recently, there have been considerable efforts to search for naturally occurring substances that can inhibit, reverse, or retard the multi-stage carcinogenesis. A wide array of phenolic substances derived from edible and medicinal plants have been reported to possess anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities and in many cases, the chemopreventive activities of phytochemicals are associated with their anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidative properties. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer cultivated in Korea has been widely used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Certain fractions or purified ingredients of ginseng have been shown to exert anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activities. Our previous studies have revealed that the methanol extract of heat-processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer attenuates the lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates and is also capable of scavenging superoxide generated by xanthine- xanthine oxidase or by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Topical application of the same extract onto shaven backs of female ICR mice also suppressed TPA-induced skin tumor promotion. Likewise, topical application of ginsenoside Rg3, one of the constituents of heat-treated ginseng, significantly inhibited TPA-induced mouse epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity and skin tumor promotion. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in TPA-stimulated mouse skin was markedly suppressed by Rg3 pretreatment. In addition, Rg3 inhibited TPA-stimulated activation of NF-kB and extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK), one of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in mouse skin and also in cultured human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A).

Effects of (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) on DNA Strand Breaks as Evaluated by Single-cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCG) in Human Lymphocytes

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a catechin polyphenol component, is the main ingredient of green tea extract. Although the anti-carcinogenic and cancer inhibitory effects of EGCG have been widely reported, its genotoxicity is not clear and seldom reported. In this study, we examined the effects of EGCG on DNA strand breaks in the isolated lymphocytes and whole blood lymphocytes obtained from two smoking subjects and a nonsmoking healthy subject using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCG) assay. The results showed that after 2 hrs of treating the isolated lymphocytes from the smokers, EGCG induced a significant increase in DNA strand breaks at concentrations from 2.5 × 10-5 M to 2.0 × 10-4 M, while after 2 hrs of treating the whole blood obtained from the same smokers, EGCG suppressed the DNA strand breaks in the lymphocytes at concentrations of 1.0 × 10-4 M and 2.0 × 10-4 M. A similar suppressive result was also shown in the whole blood lymphocytes from the nonsmoker at nearly the same concentrations, while at concentrations of 1.0 × 10-3 M or 2.0 × 10-3 M, EGCG induced a significant increase in DNA strand breaks in the whole blood lymphocytes from the nonsmoker. This result suggests that EGCG is not only inhibitory against DNA strand breaks in whole blood, but also genotoxic to the isolated or whole blood lymphocytes at high concentrations. Thus, more research is needed to comprehensively assess the effects of EGCG on genetic materials.