Review of anticancer activity of monoterpenoids: Geraniol, nerol, geranial and neral.

In recent years head-to-tail monoterpene geraniol has been widely explored as a potential anticancer agent. Natural analogs like alcohol nerol, aldehydes geranial, and neral have been investigated. We explored the synergism of these terpenes with clinically and non-clinically used compounds as potential candidates for treating different types of cancer. Promising activity for these compounds has also inspired new analog syntheses. The anticancer potential of these compounds is described in this review.

Triatomines: Trypanosomatids, Bacteria, and Viruses Potential Vectors?

Triatominae bugs are the vectors of Chagas disease, a major concern to public health especially in Latin America, where vector-borne Chagas disease has undergone resurgence due mainly to diminished triatomine control in many endemic municipalities. Although the majority of Triatominae species occurs in the Americas, species belonging to the genus Linshcosteus occur in India, and species belonging to the Triatoma rubrofasciata complex have been also identified in Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and in the Western Pacific. Not all of Triatominae species have been found to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, but the possibility of establishing vector transmission to areas where Chagas disease was previously non-endemic has increased with global population mobility. Additionally, the worldwide distribution of triatomines is concerning, as they are able to enter in contact and harbor other pathogens, leading us to wonder if they would have competence and capacity to transmit them to humans during the bite or after successful blood feeding, spreading other infectious diseases. In this review, we searched the literature for infectious agents transmitted to humans by Triatominae. There are reports suggesting that triatomines may be competent vectors for pathogens such as Serratia marcescens, Bartonella, and Mycobacterium leprae, and that triatomine infection with other microrganisms may interfere with triatomine-T. cruzi interactions, altering their competence and possibly their capacity to transmit Chagas disease.