Obesity is a complex condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation, leading to significant health risks, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers. Its multifactorial etiology encompasses genetic predispositions, behavioral factors, like poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, and hormonal imbalances involving leptin and insulin resistance. In addition to lifestyle interventions, such as balanced diets and regular physical activity, pharmacological therapies play a pivotal role in managing obesity. Approved medications include orlistat, which inhibits fat absorption by blocking gastrointestinal lipases; liraglutide and semaglutide, which are glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists that regulate appetite and glucose metabolism; phentermine/topiramate, which combines appetite suppression and satiety enhancement; and naltrexone/bupropion, which modulates the brain’s reward pathways to reduce food cravings. Advanced therapies, such as setmelanotide, target genetic deficiencies affecting appetite regulation, while tirzepatide, a dual gastric inhibitory polypeptide, and GLP-1 receptor agonist, enhances satiety and metabolic control. Bariatric surgery remains a viable option for severe cases. With the inception of individualized treatment plans and the ongoing research into genetic and metabolic factors, the development of targeted, effective therapies, devoid of serious adverse effects, continues to evolve, offering hope for improved obesity management.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by inadequate insulin production or peripheral insulin resistance, leading to persistent hyperglycemia. Prolonged hyperglycemia levels can cause severe complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes is classified into four main types: Type 1 DM, type 2 DM, gestational DM, and maturity-onset diabetes of the young, each with distinct etiologies and clinical manifestations. Present therapeutic strategies encompass pharmacological interventions and lifestyle modifications; however, these approaches have limitations, such as adverse effects and reduced efficacy over time. Cutting-edge treatments, including stem cell therapy, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and medicinal plant-based therapies, offer promising avenues for improved diabetes management and potential cure. Several medicinal plants, including gudmar, bitter melon, and fenugreek, contain natural compounds that regulate blood glucose levels, boost insulin secretion, and mitigate oxidative stress, positioning them as valuable adjuncts in diabetes management. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of diabetes pathophysiology, classification, and present management strategies, highlighting the necessity for novel treatment approaches in response to the global diabetes epidemic.

According to the latest report in 2024 by the World Health Organization, based on global data from 2021, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia rank seventh among the leading causes of death worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths. This alarming number underscores the urgent requirement for effective treatments. AD and other dementias also severely affect the global economy. Unfortunately, no cure has been found, and effective treatments remain limited. Over the past two decades, thousands of disease-modifying drugs have been developed for AD treatment. However, most have failed to progress beyond phase I clinical trials, with only a few reaching phase III. To date, lecanemab (sold under the brand name Leqembi) is the only drug to receive full approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for slowing AD progression. This drug is specifically designed to target and clear amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. Apart from targeting Aβ aggregation and tau tangles, neuroinflammatory regulatory pathways have emerged as promising therapeutic targets. With advancing research, neuroinflammation has been considered one of the core characteristics of AD and the third major pathological hallmark of the disease after Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles. In this review, we summarize key research findings in neuroinflammatory regulation of AD and related dementias that are promising for treatments. We also provide an overview of clinical trials targeting the immune system or neuroinflammatory regulatory pathways, analyzing their challenges and potential successes.

Bioinformatics is revolutionizing biological research and healthcare worldwide, yet many African countries face significant challenges due to limited access to registered tools and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, open-source bioinformatics tools provide a cost-effective alternative, driving scientific progress. This systematic review examines their impact and applications in resource-limited African settings, particularly in genomics, drug discovery, disease surveillance, and structural biology. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online was conducted using keywords such as “open-source bioinformatics,” “Africa,” and “genomics,” covering studies from 2015 to 2024. The findings highlight significant contributions across multiple fields. In genomics, studies on sickle cell anemia in Nigeria identified novel single nucleotide polymorphisms using FastQC and Burrow-Wheeler alignment, improving genetic counseling and personalized treatments. Crop genomics research in Kenya pinpointed drought-resistance genes, enhancing food security. In disease surveillance, Nextstrain facilitated real-time tracking of viral mutations during the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks, shaping public health responses and vaccination strategies. In drug discovery, computational docking with AutoDock identified promising antimalarial and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis drug candidates in Uganda and South Africa, wherease molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy analysis refined drug-target interactions. Structural biology contributions from African researchers to the Protein Data Bank have provided crucial insights for disease-specific treatments, such as targeting malaria-related proteins. In addition, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity predictive models have been employed to assess the pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles of novel drug candidates, reducing reliance on costly experimental studies. These findings underscore the transformative potential of open-source bioinformatics tools in enabling high-quality research and innovation in Africa.

Herbal medicine plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s health-care system, particularly among non-health professionals, with many individuals relying on traditional remedies for self-medication and disease management. The review aims to identify sources of information on herbal drugs, types of herbal medications commonly used, reasons for their usage, and associated risks. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and local Nigerian journals, complemented by gray literature from government health websites and reports. Key terms such as “herbal medicine,” “Nigeria,” “non-health professionals,” and “information accessibility” were employed to identify relevant studies and reports published between 2000 and 2023. The selected materials were analyzed to extract themes surrounding the knowledge and practices of non-health professionals regarding herbal medicine. Findings reveal that non-health professionals primarily rely on traditional healers, family members, and media sources for information. However, these sources often lack scientific evidence, resulting in potential misinformation. Commonly used herbal remedies include moringa, neem, and various local plants, often endorsed for their perceived efficacy and affordability compared to conventional drugs. Despite the cultural acceptance of herbal medicines, significant safety concerns arise from inadequate regulation, potential toxicity, and adverse drug interactions when used concurrently with pharmaceuticals. This review highlights the need for improved regulation, credible information dissemination, and public education regarding herbal medicines to enhance safe practices. Recommendations include collaborating with health authorities to promote awareness and integrating traditional healers into formal health-care systems. By shedding light on the current state of herbal drug information accessibility and usage, this study underscores the importance of addressing gaps in knowledge to safeguard public health in Nigeria.

Pseudoeriocitrin is a virtually designed molecule created in silico by assuming the formation of oxygen radicals in eriocitrin, resulting in a different geometry. It achieves femtomolar-level inhibition in in silico docking studies, demonstrating higher inhibitory efficacy than eriocitrin. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the extraordinary inhibitory activity of pseudoeriocitrin through a 3D analysis of potential interactions using an in silico protein-ligand docking method. Although it is difficult to reach a definitive conclusion, the absence of hydrogen donors renders the pseudoeriocitrin structure highly toxic. The high binding affinity of pseudoeriocitrin, which inhibits various proteins at the femtomolar level, with the lowest inhibition constant value of 3.45 fM, is presumably due to its planar structure and the abundance of oxygen radicals, which facilitate the formation of hydrogen bonds with atoms in the active site of the proteins. This study is the first to demonstrate the structure-activity relationship of pseudoeriocitrin through in silico docking method. The results indicate that the large core structure, abundance of oxygen atoms, planar geometry, and femtomolar-level inhibition are interrelated. The chemical properties resulting from these unique biological properties should be examined from multiple perspectives. In addition, further research is required to explore the synthesis of non-radical pseudoeriocitrin.

Aurora-B, a serine-threonine kinase, plays a critical role in spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, mitotic checkpoint activation, and cytokinesis. The overexpression of Aurora-B leads to abnormal cell division, multinucleation, and centrosome amplification, contributing to cancer. To identify potential Aurora-B inhibitors, a 3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship study was conducted, leading to the selection of a five-feature pharmacophore model (AADRR) with optimal partial least square parameters for virtual screening. Molecular docking was performed to determine the binding interactions of the candidate ligands with the human Aurora-B: inner centromere protein complex (PDB ID: 4AF3), identifying LYS 106, ALA 157, GLU 161, and PHE 219 as key residues crucial for the enzyme inhibition. Based on virtual screening, pharmacokinetic properties, and docking analysis, five lead compounds were selected from the national cancer institute (NCI) database: Compound 1 (NCI ID: 695163), Compound 2 (NCI ID: 327359), Compound 3 (NCI ID: 721045), Compound 4 (NCI ID: 711797), and Compound 5 (NCI ID: 104546). To clarify the interactions between Aurora-B protein and lead compounds, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out. The results demonstrated strong interactions between the lead compounds and critical active-site residues such as ALA 157 and LYS 106. The active site interactions of the protein-ligand complex were further validated through molecular dynamics simulation studies, providing insights into their binding stability and inhibitory potential.

Cherry angiomas are common benign vascular lesions with a poorly understood underlying pathogenesis. While factors such as aging, hormonal changes, and oxidative stress have been implicated, this case introduces a novel hypothesis linking severe Vitamin D deficiency to the development of cherry angiomas. We report the case of a 27-year-old Arab female with no medical, genetic, or familial predisposition to cherry angiomas. The patient presented with multiple asymptomatic, erythematous, dome-shaped lesions localized to the breast and neck regions. Comprehensive laboratory evaluations were unremarkable except for severe Vitamin D deficiency, with a serum level of 3 ng/mL (normal: 30 - 100 ng/mL). Vitamin D deficiency is known to disrupt endothelial function, increase oxidative stress, and upregulate pro-angiogenic mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor. These molecular disturbances may promote capillary proliferation and vascular instability, providing a plausible mechanism for the sudden onset of cherry angiomas in this patient. This case highlights the importance of Vitamin D in vascular health and proposes a potential link between its deficiency and the pathogenesis of cherry angiomas. Further research is warranted to explore this relationship and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, which may offer new insights into the prevention and management of cherry angiomas in patients with Vitamin D deficiency.