Effect of Diterpenes on Hepatic System.

Complication in the hepatic system is a major concern for human being. To control and keep the hepatic system healthy, a number of measures, including drug treatments are considered. Diterpenes are essential oils having promising antioxidant and cytotoxic properties along with their genotoxic and mutagenic effects. These agents are good targets for health promotion, especially in the light of their potential organo-protectivity. We searched in the databases, PUBMED and SCIENCE DIRECT from June 2011 to June 2016 for publishing evidence on diterpenes and their effects on hepatic system. After sorting the data, activity-wise findings are discussed in this current article. The results suggest that diterpenes have hepatoprotectivity property via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer/antitumor, hypolipidemic, anti-apoptosis, autophagic, antimetastasize, anti-proliferating, anti-fibrosis as well as receptor and serum biomarkers mediated pathways. On the other hand, hepatoxic effects of diterpenes are also accounted with cytotoxicity, apoptotic cell death and downregulation of cytochrome P450 systems. A number of important diterpenes have been reported in the literatures that act on the hepatic system. Some of them exert toxic effects on the liver, especially in rodent model. Hence, more extensive researches are recommended that will highlight their mechanism of action on the liver.

A comprehensive review on biological properties of citrinin.

Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin which causes contamination in the food and is associated with different toxic effects. A web search on CIT has been conducted covering the timespan since 1946. The accumulated data indicate that CIT is produced by several fungal strains belonging to Penicillium, Aspergillus and Monascus genera, and is usually found together with another nephrotoxic mycotoxin, ochratoxin A. Although, it is evident that CIT exposure can exert toxic effects on the heart, liver, kidney, as well as reproductive system, the mechanism of CIT-induced toxicity remains largely elusive. It is still controversial what are the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of CIT. Until now, its toxic effect has been linked to the CIT-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in biological systems. However, the toxicity strongly depends on its concentration, route, frequency and time of exposure, as well as from the used test systems. Besides the toxic effects, CIT is also reported to possess a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and potential anticancer and neuro-protective effects in vitro. This systematic review presents the current state of CIT research with emphasis on its bioactivity profile.