Novel Insight into the Cellular and Molecular Signalling Pathways on Cancer Preventing Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa: A Review.

A category of diseases known as cancer includes abnormal cell development and the ability to infiltrate or spread to other regions of the body, making them a major cause of mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy, radiation, the use of cytotoxic medicines, and surgery are the mainstays of cancer treatment today. Plants or products produced from them hold promise as a source of anti-cancer medications that have fewer adverse effects. Due to the presence of numerous phytochemicals that have been isolated from various parts of the Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) plant, including anthocyanin, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, organic acids, caffeic acids, citric acids, protocatechuic acid, and others, extracts of this plant have been reported to have anti-cancer effects. These compounds have been shown to reduce cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and cause cell cycle arrest. They also increase the expression levels of the cell cycle inhibitors (p53, p21, and p27) and the pro-apoptotic proteins (BAD, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 8, and caspase 9). This review highlights various intracellular signalling pathways involved in cancer preventive potential of HS.

Exogenous melatonin enhances low-temperature stress of jute seedlings through modulation of photosynthesis and antioxidant potential.

Developing new varieties of natural fibers that can grow throughout the year is very crucial to replace and avoid the bad effect of synthetic fiber. As a result of its beneficial role in protecting plants from abiotic stressors, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has gained recognition as a novel plant growth regulator. This study aimed to investigates the role of exogenous melatonin (200 µM) on two varieties of Corchorous olitorius and Corchorous capsularis in response to low-temperature stress (8 °C) for different periods of treatment (0, 24, 36, and 48 h) based on biochemical properties, and antioxidant system. The results demonstrated that exogenous melatonin had inhibitory effects of low-temperature stress on seedlings at different period of treatment when compared to non-melatonin treated seedlings, potentially improved photosynthetic apparatus (total chlorophyll up to 29.93 and 33.37%; total carotenoid up to 29.93 and 19.05%; anthocyanin up to 40.47 and 31.94% in M33 and Y49, respectively), reduced oxidative damage (MDA up to 53.59 and 44.28%; H2O2 up to 41.04 and 16.88% in M33 and Y49, respectively) by boosting the antioxidant enzymes (SOD up to 12.75 and 4.65%; POD up to 39.08 and 81.39%; total phenolic up to 43.38 and 56.48% in M33 and Y49, respectively) reduced electrolyte leakage (EL) up to 15.37 and 13.64% in M33 and Y49, respectively) and increased osmoregulation (soluble sugars up to 25.86 and 25.86%; proline up to 105.19 and 172.07%; FAA up to 48.50 and 30.06% in M33 and Y49, respectively) content. Thus, this study showed that exogenous melatonin effectively mitigated the low-temperature-induced oxidative in C. olitorius and C. capsularis seedlings by regulating the antioxidant system and improving the low-temperature resistance.

Cytochrome P450 Gene Families: Role in Plant Secondary Metabolites Production and Plant Defense.

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are the most prominent family of enzymes involved in NADPH- and O2-dependent hydroxylation processes throughout all spheres of life. CYPs are crucial for the detoxification of xenobiotics in plants, insects, and other organisms. In addition to performing this function, CYPs serve as flexible catalysts and are essential for producing secondary metabolites, antioxidants, and phytohormones in higher plants. Numerous biotic and abiotic stresses frequently affect the growth and development of plants. They cause a dramatic decrease in crop yield and a deterioration in crop quality. Plants protect themselves against these stresses through different mechanisms, which are accomplished by the active participation of CYPs in several biosynthetic and detoxifying pathways. There are immense potentialities for using CYPs as a candidate for developing agricultural crop species resistant to biotic and abiotic stressors. This review provides an overview of the plant CYP families and their functions to plant secondary metabolite production and defense against different biotic and abiotic stresses.

Phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of different anatomical parts of Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis during different phenological stages.

Different parts of Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis possess different antioxidant compounds. This study investigated the phytochemical components and antioxidant capacities of ultrasound-assisted extraction of different plant parts of both species using spectrophotometry at various phenological stages. Results also indicate that leaves, stems and roots of C. olitorius at various growth stages showed higher phytochemical components and antioxidant potential compared to C. capsularis. The phytochemical components from roots to leaves in C. olitorius including total polyphenol 0.97-11.11 mg GAE/g DW, total flavonoid 0.99-7.78 mg QE/g DW and total tannin 4.02-26.89 TA E/g DW, whereas C. capsularis total polyphenol 1.04-7.93 mg GAE/g DW, total flavonoid 0.77-5.5.92 mg QE/g DW and total tannin content 3.17-22.73 TA E/g DW. C. olitorius produced overall 22.23%, 13.61%, 12.24% higher total polyphenol, total flavonoid and total tannin, respectively compare to C. capsularis. Different parts extract also significantly affected antioxidant capacities including DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activity with values of 22.03-79.46% inhibition, 10.84-104.10 µmol TE/g DW, and 10.84-104.10 µmol Fe2+/g DW respectively for C. olitorius, while C. capsularis demonstrated 14.03-70.97% of DPPH inhibition, 9.16-95.60 µmol TE/g DW of ABTS and 5.31-71.82 µmol Fe2+/g DW of FRAP activity. Moreover, leaves of the flowering stage, young stems and aged roots of both species displayed a higher content of phytochemical and antioxidant activities than other growth stages. A positive correlation between the phytochemical and antioxidant potential indicated that phenolic constituents solely affected antioxidant activity. Thus, this study established that the plant's parts and phenological growth stages significantly influence the concentration of phytoconstituents and antioxidant activities, and determine the harvesting stages of the different organs of C. olitorius and C. capsularis for considerable medicinal importance as folk and industry.

Salt Stress Induces Changes in Physiological Characteristics, Bioactive Constituents, and Antioxidants in Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.).

Salinity stress is a major environmental threat in agricultural systems. Kenaf is a promising crop for the future for cultivation in salinity-affected soils because of its high phytoremediation potential. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of salt stress using six different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM) on the plant growth, physiological characteristics, bioactive constituents, and antioxidant capacity of H. cannabinus. The results indicated that the NaCl stress induced significant reductions in plant height and in the dry and fresh weights of the leaf tissue. In addition, the K, Ca, Mg, and P concentrations in this tissue also decreased under NaCl stress treatment conditions. In contrast, the NaCl stress led to the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2•-), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, total soluble sugar, and total soluble protein. Under NaCl stress, the levels of antioxidants, including phenolics and flavonoids, also increased. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that the volatile compounds, including heptacosane, 1-octadecanesulphonyl chloride, and tetratetracontane, were induced under the NaCl stress treatment. Furthermore, the salt stress significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of the leaf extracts. These findings may provide insight into how H. cannabinus plants respond to salt stress and may help improve its medicinal value under salt stress.

A Comprehensive Review of C. capsularis and C. olitorius: A Source of Nutrition, Essential Phytoconstituents and Pharmacological Activities.

Plant bioactive compounds have gained global significance in terms of both medicinal and economic ramifications due to being easily accessible and are believed to be effective with fewer side effects. Growing relevant clinical and scientific evidence has become an important criterion for accepting traditional health claims of medicinal plants and also supports the traditional uses of Corchorus as folk medicine. C. capsularis and C. olitorius have broad applications ranging from textile to biocomposite, and young leaves and shoots are used as healthy vegetables and have long been used as traditional remedies for fever, ascites, algesia, liver disorders, piles, and tumors in many cultures. This review systematically summarized and emphasized the nutritional attributes, mostly available bioactive compounds, and biological and potential pharmaceutical properties of C. capsularis and C. olitorius, disclosed to users and non-users. Results suggest that various phytochemicals such as cardiac glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, sterols, lipids, and fatty acids were found or analytically identified in different plant parts (leaf, stem, seed, and root), and many of them are responsible for pharmacological properties and their antitumor, anticancer, antioxidant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiviral, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic and antiobesity, and cardiovascular properties help to prevent and cure many chronic diseases. In addition to their use in traditional food and medicine, their leaves have also been developed for skin care products, and some other possible uses are described. From this review, it is clear that the isolated compounds of both species have great potential to prevent and treat various diseases and be used as functional foods. In conclusion, this comprehensive review establishes a significant reference base for future research into various medical and functional food applications.

Polysaccharides, Total Phenolic, and Flavonoid Content from Different Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Genotypes and Their Antioxidants and Antibacterial Properties.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is a valuable plant with a potential health benefit because of its extensive bioactive compounds. Leaf extracts of 33 kenaf genotypes were investigated for their polysaccharide, total phenolic, and flavonoid content. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assays. Antimicrobial capacity was also assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using a disc diffusion assay. The polysaccharide content varied from 6.45-16.12 mg glucose per g DW. Total phenolic and flavonoid content ranged from 6.03-21.15 mg GAE/g DW and 1.55-9.24 mg RE/g DW, respectively. Similarly, varied values in the range 20.55-79.99% of inhibition by DPPH, 56.28-88.30% of inhibition by ABTS and 1.26-5.08 mmol Fe2+/g DW by FRAP assays were obtained for antioxidants of the genotype extracts. Extracts from CS4 and CS2 genotypes had the highest antioxidant activities. Kenaf leaves exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Strong correlation was found between antioxidant activity with polysaccharide (DPPH, r = 0.893; ABTS, r = 0.819; FRAP, r = 0.864) and total phenolic content (DPPH, r = 0.850; ABTS, r = 0.959; FRAP, r = 0.953). The results suggested that the kenaf leaves could be used as a natural antioxidants and antimicrobial in food industries.

Chemometric analysis of integrated FTIR and Raman spectra obtained by non-invasive exfoliative cytology for the screening of oral cancer.

FTIR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy of biological analytes are increasingly explored as screening tools for early detection of cancer. In the present study, an integrated analysis of the FTIR and Raman spectra obtained from exfoliated cells is adopted to improve discrimination of normal, pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions. Multiple spectra were obtained from 13 normal, 13 pre-cancer and 10 cancer patients in both modes. Compared to normal patients, significant differences were observed at 1550, 1580, 1640, 2370, 2330, 2950-3000 and 3650-3750 cm-1 (FTIR) and 520, 640, 785, 827, 850, 935, 1003, 1175, 1311 cm-1 and 1606 cm-1 (Raman) vibrations of the other two. The increase in DNA, protein and lipid content with malignancy was more clearly elucidated by examining both spectra. Principal component analysis (PCA)-linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with 10-fold cross validation of the FTIR and Raman spectral data sets showed efficient discrimination between normal and pathological conditions while overlapping was seen between the two pathologies. The PCA-LDA model of the dual spectra yielded a classification accuracy of 98% in comparison with either FTIR (85%) or Raman (82%) in a spectrum-wise comparison. In the patient-wise approach (mean of all spectra from a patient), the overall classification efficiency was 73%, 80% and 87% for FTIR, Raman and integrated spectral approaches respectively. Moreover, the efficiency of the integrated FTIR-Raman PCA-LDA model as a prediction tool was tested to screen susceptible individuals (11 cigarette smokers) using the dual spectra acquired from these individuals. The study presents proof-of-concept for adopting a large-scale, follow-up trial of the approach for mass screening purposes.

Pre-cancer risk assessment in habitual smokers from DIC images of oral exfoliative cells using active contour and SVM analysis.

Habitual smokers are known to be at higher risk for developing oral cancer, which is increasing at an alarming rate globally. Conventionally, oral cancer is associated with high mortality rates, although recent reports show the improved survival outcomes by early diagnosis of disease. An effective prediction system which will enable to identify the probability of cancer development amongst the habitual smokers, is thus expected to benefit sizable number of populations. Present work describes a non-invasive, integrated method for early detection of cellular abnormalities based on analysis of different cyto-morphological features of exfoliative oral epithelial cells. Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy provides a potential optical tool as this mode provides a pseudo three dimensional (3-D) image with detailed morphological and textural features obtained from noninvasive, label free epithelial cells. For segmentation of DIC images, gradient vector flow snake model active contour process has been adopted. To evaluate cellular abnormalities amongst habitual smokers, the selected morphological and textural features of epithelial cells are compared with the non-smoker (-ve control group) group and clinically diagnosed pre-cancer patients (+ve control group) using support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Accuracy of the developed SVM based classification has been found to be 86% with 80% sensitivity and 89% specificity in classifying the features from the volunteers having smoking habit.

Risk prediction for oral potentially malignant disorders using fuzzy analysis of cytomorphological and autofluorescence alterations in habitual smokers.

AIM: This study aims to develop a novel noninvasive method for early cancer trend diagnosis in habitual smokers by corroborating cytomorphological and autofluorescence alterations. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 120 subjects were included and categorized into nonsmoker, smoker and clinically diagnosed oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) patients. Oral exfoliative epithelial cells were studied through differential interference contrast and fluorescence microscopy. Fuzzy trend analysis was performed using measured parameters for determining the risk factors among smokers. RESULTS: The risk assessment in this study showed a positive correlation of smoking duration with early cancer risk factors with a correlation co-efficient of 0.86. CONCLUSION: Alterations in cellular morphology and autofluorescence intensities showed positive correlation with OPMD. The present study will benefit to investigate early prediction of OPMD among susceptible individuals.