Boosting the properties of a fluorescent dye by encapsulation into halloysite nanotubes
Abstract The synthesis of a new biocompatible bichromophoric system (CURBO) was developed, by connecting the skeleton of the naturally occurring curcumin to a BODIPY derivative. The system exhibited an intense fluorescence band with maximum at about 510 nm in organic solvent, while its emission spectra in aqueous solution were more complicated and slightly red-shifted, due to the effect of aggregation for the poor solubility of the dyad. To overcome these problems, the bichomophoric system has been loaded into the halloysite nanotubes (HNT). The HNT/CURBO nanocomposite, suspended in aqueous solution, showed an intensity of emission in the red region of the spectrum higher than the one exhib…
Pharmacological and chemical features ofNepetaL. genus: Its importance as a therapeutic agent
Medicinal plants have always had great value for the human population due to their valuable constituents and potential bioactivities. The objective of this review is to present an updated overview of an important medicinal plant genus Nepeta L., from the family Lamiaceae, revealing its traditional utilization, biological activity, phytoconstituents, and mechanisms of action. For this purpose, a literature survey was carried out by using SciFinder, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science followed by a revision of the bibliographies of the related articles. We have described and analyzed the role of plants in drug discovery and the importance of Nepeta species. Information on the ut…
Targeting epigenetics in cancer: therapeutic potential of flavonoids
Irrespective of sex and age, cancer is the leading cause of mortality around the globe. Therapeutic incompliance, unwanted effects, and economic burdens imparted by cancer treatments, are primary health challenges. The heritable features in gene expression that are propagated through cell division and contribute to cellular identity without a change in DNA sequence are considered epigenetic characteristics and agents that could interfere with these features and are regarded as potential therapeutic targets. The genetic modification accounts for the recurrence and uncontrolled changes in the physiology of cancer cells. This review focuses on plant-derived flavonoids as a therapeutic tool for…
Preliminary Study on the In vitro and In vivo Effects of Asparagopsis taxiformis Bioactive Phycoderivates on Teleosts
Several compounds from marine organisms have been studied for their potential use in aquaculture. Among the red algae, Asparagopsis taxiformis is considered one of the most promising species for the production of bioactive metabolites with numerous proposed applications. Here, the in vitro antibacterial activity, the easy handling and the absence of adverse effects on marine fish species are reported. Depending on the seasonal period of sampling, ethanol extracts of A. taxiformis exhibited significantly different inhibitory activity against fish pathogenic bacteria. The extract obtained in late spring showed strong antibacterial activity against Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, Vib…