Cyanobacteria are a promising and sustainable source of numerous bioactive compounds, including phycobiliproteins (PBPs). PBPs are a group of water-soluble pigments that serve as a critical component in the accessory light-harvesting system in cyanobacteria. PBPs are composed of chromophore-binding proteins such as phycocyanin, phycoerythrin, and allophycocyanin, which exhibit distinctive structural and functional properties. PBPs aggregate into larger structures called phycobilisomes, located on the thylakoid membrane of cyanobacteria, consisting of rod and core subunits. PBPs scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. Due to their pharmacological properties, outstanding therapeutic value, and ecological significance, they have garnered considerable scientific interest in recent years. In this review, we provide an in-depth examination of the structural attributes of PBPs and explore their promising biotechnological applications, offering insights into current developments, challenges, and future directions for utilizing PBPs in scientific and industrial fields.

In this study, we focus on the enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of bioactive compounds from Posidonia oceanica, a Mediterranean seagrass of ecological importance that is often treated as waste. Increasing evidence highlights its beneficial properties, making it a promising source of compounds for the production of value-added compounds. A Taguchi experimental design was employed to optimize the EAE, using the cellulolytic commercial enzyme preparation Cellic CTec3^® HS. The effects of key parameters, namely extraction time, solid-to-liquid ratio, and enzyme loading, were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Optimization was achieved using "the larger-the-better" approach, and under optimal conditions (solid-to-liquid ratio 1% w/v, enzyme loading 200 U/g, and extraction time 6 h), TPC and TFC reached 27.54 ± 0.84 mg GAE/g DW and 9.22 ± 0.84 mg CAE/g DW, respectively, representing approximately a ten-fold and more than five-fold increase compared to conventional ethanol:water extraction. An additional hemicellulolytic enzyme preparation, Viscoferm® was evaluated under the optimized conditions, and EAE with Cellic CTec3® HS yielded higher TPC and TFC. The optimized extracts obtained with Cellic CTec3® HS and Viscoferm® were further assessed for their antioxidant activity, anti-aging activity (inhibition of tyrosinase activity), anti-diabetic activity (inhibition of amylase and α-glucosidase activity), and antibacterial activity (inhibition of E. coli growth). The Cellic CTec3^® HS extract yielded highest antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ =203.72 ± 23.99 μL extract/mL) and antibacterial activity (21.37 ± 2.00 %), whereas the Viscoferm^® extracts demonstrated stronger antidiabetic activity with IC₅₀ values of IC₅₀ = 38.42 ± 2.45 mg/mL (α-amylase) and 43.84 ± 1.29 mg/mL (a-glucosidase). Both extracts showed relatively low tyrosinase inhibition; at 200 mg/mL, Cellic CTec3^® HS and Viscoferm^® exhibited 41.62 ± 0.10% and 18.69 ± 0.57% inhibition, respectively. These findings confirm the potential of Posidonia oceanica as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds with promising applications.

This study evaluated the effects of an alkaloid-rich leaf extract of Dalbergiella welwitschii (Baker) Baker f. on hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats, which were then treated with low (50 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg) doses of the extract, or metformin (200 mg/kg), for 20 days. Key hepatic enzymes-glycogen phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, glycogen synthase, and hexokinase-along with hepatic glycogen and insulin levels were measured. Treatment with the extract significantly restored enzyme activities, increased insulin levels, and enhanced glycogen content. These results indicate that D. welwitschii extract can modulate hepatic carbohydrate metabolism and may have potential therapeutic benefits for diabetes management.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a molecular technique that has transformed clinical diagnostics by enabling the amplification and quantification of specific nucleic acid sequences with high sensitivity, specificity, and speed. This approach supports the detection of pathogens, genetic mutations, and biomarkers across clinical samples. qPCR is widely employed in fields, such as infectious diseases, oncology, parasitology, and medical genetics, playing a pivotal role in the rapid identification of infectious agents, including those responsible for COVID-19, tuberculosis, leprosy, leishmaniasis, and arboviral infections. Compared with conventional diagnostic methods, qPCR offers substantial advantages, including reduced turnaround times, increased analytical accuracy, and compatibility with automated workflows. Recent technological innovations, including portable thermocyclers, simplified workflows, and ready-to-use commercial kits, along with integration into digital platforms, have expanded the applicability of qPCR to low-infrastructure environments and point-of-care settings. Despite these advances, the technique faces challenges, such as high costs of equipment and reagents, reliance on trained personnel, and susceptibility to inhibition by sample-derived compounds. Nevertheless, the adoption of standardized guidelines, such as Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE) and Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD), has strengthened the reproducibility and reliability of qPCR in clinical research. Future perspectives suggest an increasing role for qPCR in personalized medicine, epidemiological surveillance, and decentralized diagnostic strategies, further consolidating its importance in clinical practice and global public health. Its combined sensitivity, specificity, and adaptability will continue to drive innovation in molecular diagnostics.

Choline kinase alpha (CHKA) plays an important role in phospholipid metabolism and is frequently overexpressed in several cancers, where it contributes to tumor growth and survival. In this study, we investigated whether microRNA-32-5p (miR-32-5p) regulates CHKA expression and influences malignant phenotypes in human breast cancer cells. Bioinformatic prediction and luciferase reporter assays suggested a potential interaction between miR-32-5p and the CHKA 3’ UTR. Transfection of miR-32-5p into MCF7 cells significantly reduced CHKA mRNA and CHKA protein expression. This downregulation was associated with increased apoptosis, G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, and reduced migration of MCF7 cells. Reduced phosphorylation of ERK and mTOR was also observed, suggesting decreased activation of MAPK/mTOR signaling pathways. In contrast, although CHKA expression was reduced in non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells, apoptosis was not induced. These findings indicate that miR-32-5p regulates CHKA expression and suppresses malignant phenotypes in breast cancer cells, highlighting its potential role in modulating CHKA-associated signaling pathways. These findings identify miR-32-5p as a regulator of CHKA expression and associated signaling pathways in breast cancer cells. While the results provide insight into microRNA-mediated control of CHKA-dependent oncogenic processes, additional studies in diverse cancer models and in vivo systems will be necessary to determine whether miR-32-5p could be safely exploited for therapeutic purposes.

Quercetin is one of the dietary flavonols found mostlyin fruits and vegetables and is known to modulate the bidirectional communication among the gut microbiota, immune system, and central nervous system. Apart from its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, it modulates gut microbial composition, the intestinal barrier, and neuroimmune pathways. Clinical translation is constrained because of low systemic bioavailability, extensive first-pass metabolism, and inter-individual variability caused by genetics and microbiome diversity. While nano delivery systems, phospholipid complexes, and metabolic co-administration have been proposed to improve absorption, the extent to which these interventions alter microbiota-mediated effects and yield measurable neurological outcomes in humans remains limited and requires further validation in well-controlled human studies. The evidence also supports a hormetic response, whereby moderate doses stimulate the body’s adaptive defenses, whereas supra-physiological doses may have adverse effects. Therefore, researchers should focus on standardized human trials that include neurofunctional outcomes, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, and multi-omics approaches to clarify the associated mechanisms. In this review, we synthesize molecular, preclinical, and clinical evidence to advance a conceptual framework that elucidates the potential of this compound as a microbiota-modulating agent, principally on mechanistic and preclinical grounds, while clinical confirmation of its therapeutic efficacy in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders remains limited. It emphasizes the significance of gut-level interactions and microbiota-derived metabolites rather than systemic bioavailability alone.