New effective tumor-specific and patient-safe drugs are in demand for cancer treatment. Various classes of substances from holothurians (sea cucumbers) have a number of unique structural properties that provide their high cytotoxicity and other anticancer activities. Until recently, the main attention of researchers was focused on triterpene glycosides (TGs), primarily isolated from commercially used species of sea cucumbers. TGs have pronounced anticancer activity, but in many cases cause side effects. The aim of this review was to analyze data on the anticancer effects of the most studied classes of compounds isolated from sea cucumbers (TGs, proteins and peptides, sphingolipids, polysaccharides), including species that are not used, their mechanisms of action, and approaches to ensuring their safe use in anticancer therapy. The analysis revealed high anticancer activity of the studied compounds against a wide range of tumors, which is performed largely through different mechanisms. The safety of using TGs increases when combined with some compounds of other chemical classes, which is manifested in the absence of a significant side effect on healthy cells. High efficacy and safety of experiments using a wide range of compounds isolated from sea cucumbers demonstrate that they are promising candidates for anticancer drugs.
Olive oil is rich in different classes of phenolic compounds, and their content is important for the quality assessment of virgin olive oil. Phenolic compounds contribute to the taste and aroma of olive oil and protect it from oxidation. The present review article aimed to collect and evaluate several research data concerning the effect of variety, geographical origin, cultivation practices, and processing on a less studied plant flavonol, namely quercetin, in olive oil and olive by-products. Collected data included measurements of quercetin content and total phenolic compounds in olive oil of Greek, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Algerian, Tunisian, and Brazilian olive varieties. Olive varieties, geographical region, temperature, and malaxation processing affect the concentration of total phenolic content and, consequently, the quercetin content. In addition, differences in the reported quercetin content may partly stem from methodological variability. To enrich the article’s data and evaluate the concentration of phenolic compounds in olive oil, olives and olive leaves were also studied. However, a gap was identified in the literature, as research studies are lacking on the specific effect of the factors mentioned above on the quercetin content of olive oil. For this reason, the collection of several findings on the effect of such factors on quercetin content was considered to be necessary.
The fullerene C60 is widely studied as a potential nanoscale drug carrier for hydrophobic anticancer compounds; however, its practical application in biomedicine has been limited due to low polarity and water solubility. Herein, we utilized Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to study the impact of endohedral encapsulation of several heteroatoms (boron, nitrogen, silicon, and phosphorus) on the structure and electronic properties of C60. Each atom was placed within the confines of the fullerene cage adjacent to the same pentagonal carbon group to compare interactions and stability. Optimization results showed minimal impact on C-C bond length due to encapsulation, maintaining a stable fullerene cage structure. Calculated interaction energies showed that encapsulation of B, N, and Si within the fullerene cage is energetically favourable, whereas P encapsulation is less favourable. C60N exhibited the highest interaction as a result of large charge transfer between the cage and nitrogen atom, while C60Si was found to have the greatest dipole moment, suggesting increased polarity. HOMO-LUMO analysis showed a decreased gap upon encapsulation of all molecules, which suggests higher chemical softness. Density of states (DOS) analysis revealed noticeable changes in the electronic structure following encapsulation. The suitability of the investigated systems as drug carriers was evaluated using temozolomide (TMZ) as a model anticancer drug. Among the studied complexes, SiC60-TMZ exhibited favourable interaction characteristics and enhanced solvation stability. Overall, C60Si presents an optimal balance of stability, polarity, and electronic softness, highlighting its potential as an efficient nanocarrier for hydrophobic drug delivery applications.
In this study, we evaluated the effects of biofertilizer on primary and secondary metabolites in lettuce. Green 'Aleppo' and red 'Murai' cultivars were grown in an unheated greenhouse during winter production under biofertilizer and control (no fertilization) conditions. Main effects of cultivar showed that red 'Murai' exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and total carotenoid content, myo-inositol, malic, propionic, and citric acids, and higher concentrations of chicoric and chlorogenic acids, caffeoylquinic acid glucoside, along with all quantified flavonoids except kaempferol. In contrast, green 'Aleppo' showed higher fructose, sucrose, total sweetness index (TSI), total soluble solids (TSS), shikimic acid, fumaric acid, lactucopicrin, and lactucopicrin-15- oxalate. Biofertilizer application significantly increased glucose by 42.9%, fructose by 39.1%, and sucrose by 57.8%, resulting in a 40.5% increase in TSI. Furthermore, malic acid increased significantly by 23.2% and fumaric acid by 36.0%, whereas myo-inositol and propionic acid significantly decreased by 23.3% and 21.6%, respectively. Biofertilizer also reduced major phenolic compounds, including chicoric acid (66.9%), chlorogenic acid (81.2%), and caffeoylquinic acid glucoside (32.6%), along with TPC (19.4%) and TAC (54.0%). All principal flavonoids were significantly reduced (30.1–70.8%) when averaged across cultivars, whereas sesquiterpene lactones showed no significant biofertilizer main effect, and lactucin was the predominant lactone. Significant cultivar × biofertilizer interactions revealed contrasting metabolic responses between cultivars. EM Aktiv reduced phenolic acids and flavonoids in 'Murai', whereas in 'Aleppo', these compounds were generally maintained or enhanced in a compound-dependent responses, alongside increases in sugars and selected organic acids. Lactones showed a crossover response, increasing under EM treatment in 'Aleppo' but decreasing in 'Murai'. These results demonstrate that lettuce responses to biofertilizer treatment are strongly cultivar- dependent, highlighting the importance of genotype selection in determining metabolic responses under biofertilizer application. Overall, these changes may indicate altered allocation between primary and secondary metabolism under winter conditions.
Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions and compulsions that significantly impair quality of life and daily functioning. Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment, many patients experience incomplete response, relapse, or adverse effects associated with long-term therapy. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward herbal medicines and phytochemicals as potential alternative or adjunctive therapeutic approaches for OCD. Objective: This review summarizes the available evidence regarding herbal medicines and phytoconstituents investigated for OCD, with emphasis on their therapeutic potential, proposed mechanisms of action, and findings from preclinical and clinical studies.Methods: Relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Open Access Journals, and Google Scholar up to 31st December 2025 using keywords including “obsessive-compulsive disorder”, “OCD”, “medicinal plants”, “herbal medicine”, and “phytomedicine”. Discussion: Clinical studies, particularly randomized controlled trials, suggest that Crocus sativus, Withania somnifera, Valeriana officinalis, and Echium amoenum may reduce OCD symptom severity, primarily assessed using Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) scores. Preclinical studies further demonstrated anti-obsessive effects of several medicinal plants through modulation of serotonergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic pathways, along with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. However, the current evidence remains limited by small sample sizes, short follow-up duration, lack of replication studies, and methodological heterogeneity involving variations in herbal preparations, dosages, and study designs. In addition, mechanisms related to immune regulation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and gut–brain interactions remain insufficiently explored. Conclusions: Herbal medicines demonstrate promising therapeutic potential in OCD management; however, the existing clinical evidence remains insufficient to support routine clinical use. Future research should prioritize large double-blind randomized controlled trials with standardized herbal formulations, longer follow-up periods, and comprehensive safety evaluation, along with mechanistic studies investigating immune, inflammatory, and gut–brain pathways involved in OCD pathophysiology.
Dragon fruit has recently drawn considerable attention among the Indian growers due to its high antioxidant potential, vitamins, dietary fibers, minerals content, and great health benefits (e.g., lowering of cholesterol level, improving digestion, preventing skin infections, and boosting immune function).The aim of this review is to explore the systematic and insightful knowledge about the morphological, biochemical, and molecular diversity of dragon fruits; phytochemistry; and their therapeutic applications against oxidative stress-induced diseases. Dragon fruit extract contains various bioactive compounds, including quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, carotenoids, anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside, and betalains, which are associated with various pharmacological properties (e.g., antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-diabetic). Dragon fruit demonstrated a high anti-inflammatory property because it consists of betalains that play a significant role in the inhibition of the transcription factor NF-kB, which reduces the expression of inflammatory genes, such as TNF-α and IL-1β), while the roots of dragon fruit help in regulation of renal problems and blood glucose level. Certain saponins, such as oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, and lupane, also help in the prevention of chronic kidney diseases. This review discusses various bioactive compounds of dragon fruit that can be used in various herbal health care medicines and as cosmetics ingredients; however, examining the range of natural components in this fruit is crucial for better understanding its possible health advantages and the potential economic boost it could provide.