Therapeutic Implications of Natural Bioactive Compounds

Flavonoids belong to a class of natural, polyphenolic dietary compounds which modify the neuropathological state of the brain. Some flavonoids like quercetin and other, reduce the inflammation, carcinogenicity, and oxidation promotes neuroprotection and comprises the major component of cosmetics, medicinal and dietary supplements. Daily intake of flavonoids helps to mitigate the risk of several neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, etc. Flavonoids exhibit their pharmacological effect through various mechanisms like cholinesterase inhibition, scavenging free radicals, memory enhancement via attenuation of amyloid plaques, tau targeting detoxification and neural antiinflammation. Administration of flavonoids to biological system has to pass through several biological checkpoints like first pass metabolism, intestinal absorption, and entry into blood brain barrier. Flavonoids exhibit difference in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodyanmic profile due to difference in their structures. Recent literature reports have proved promising therapeutic potential in neurological disorders. This chapter highlights the recent development of flavonoids prevailing in the field of neurodegenerative, its limitations and drug delivery approaches to encounter the challenges. 

The evolution of novel strategies for application in all facets of cancer theragnostic has shown great progress in the past several decades. Bioactive compounds collected from plants and marine natural provenances have now been accredited as the crucial stepping stone to endow with fortification approach against several relentless ailments counting cancer. As per sundry investigations reports, the naturally occurring bioactive compounds possess an unprecedented molecular diversity with the potential to modulate several metabolic processes with high priority objectives such as low toxicity, targeting multiple drug resistance and heterogeneity of the tumor cells. These attributes with bioactive compounds can provide safe and high quality of healthy life achievable with easily available low-cost alternatives and nominal or no side effects. In topical quondam, numerous potent phytochemicals and marine molecules have been isolated, exemplified, identified, and are under disparate phases of clinical trials for human welfare. In this context, the chapter addresses recently discovered plant and marine originated natural compounds for cancer therapeutics concerning with more targeted and innoxious approach with future outlook. Moreover, an attempt to consolidate data on various bioactive compounds has been made which herald to aid in unrelenting research into potential use either solely or in combination with other widely employed therapies. 

Biofilm research is growing rapidly due to the widespread existence of biofilms in pathogens and their resistance to a variety of antimicrobial therapies. World Health Organization in 2017 categorised pathogens into three categories based on their AMR [Antimicrobial resistance] and severity of infection viz. critical, high and medium. Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and organisms belonging to Enterobacteriaceae family are top priority pathogens- ‘critical’, amongst which the majority of them are reported to cause the infection due to biofilm formation. As antibiotic resistance has increased tremendously in the last few years, the current research is concentrated on the development of effective approaches to inhibit biofilm formation by bacteria. Anti-biofilm activity is mediated by a spectrum of molecules obtained from plants, mammals, fungi, microbes, and marine sponges. The chapter gives a comprehensive idea about natural bioactives from plant and other sources that act as anti-biofilm agents. Clinical validation of these bioactives will aid the medical field with alternate preventive and treatment methods against pathogenic biofilms.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a very difficult time for the whole world with utmost challenge and responsibility on the public health sector to provide symptomatic relief and timely treatment. This condition has stimulated immediate research on the mode of transmission and pathogenesis of the viral variants. As the composition of SARS CoV-2 is similar to SARS-CoV by more than 50%, therefore the management of COVID-19 can possibly be done by repurposing the existing drugs used to treat SARS-CoV infection. The management of SARS CoV-2 infection can be performed at the level of control, prophylaxis and treatment. Many bioactive compounds isolated from medicinal plants have been studied for efficacy in controlling COVID-19 infection by either repression of viral host cell adjunction and subsequent penetration or by repression of viral genomic replication. The bioactive compounds target specific viral or host cell molecules in order to control the spread of virus. Another prominent approach is the development of plant-based vaccines to control the COVID-19 infection and associated complications. The literature also provides evidence of some phytonutrients present in the food supplements which are responsible for increasing the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immuno-stimulatory and anti-viral activities in the host cells. For the purpose of COVID prophylaxis and treatment, these phytonutrients can be administered in appropriate functional doses. The chapter is a compilation of research on SARS CoV-2 with its life cycle, pathogenesis, currently used drugs for treatment, including the synthetic ones and the medical herbs and the specific bioactive compounds found efficacious against COVID-19. 

Plant based bioactive compounds are the secondary metabolites that are produced by them to perform their non-essential functions. They provide an ample source of nutraceuticals and therapeutics for humans. The research on these compounds is on trend these days and most of the research suggests their importance as therapeutic agents and as prophylactic agents against many diseases. Easy accessibility, and better efficacy with lesser adverse effects of bioactive compounds have made their research trending. Diabetes is the oldest known metabolic disease which requires a multimodal treatment approach for its management. The available drugs and treatment options are still unable to control the complications and economic burden faced by the patients. Many plants have been used traditionally for the management of diabetes worldwide. Now it has been well established that the plants provide a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds which have the potential to modulate various pathways involved in the regulation of blood glucose. This chapter discusses the common groups of plant derived bioactive compounds, their sources, and their mechanistic antidiabetic role.

Thousands of bioactive components are derived from various marine macro and microalgae. Such beneficial algae are considered as a renewable and sustainable resource of bioactives with potential use as dietary food supplement, anti-viral, antiinflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial agents which can provide nutritive and health care benefits. The biochemical infrastructure of algae comprises proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins etc. which can be used as nutritional and dietary sources along with use in therapeutics and cosmetics. The therapeutic and industrial applications of the algal derivatives are primarily due to the secondary metabolites such as astaxanthin, aquamin, alginates, fucoidan, omega-3- fatty acids, polyphenols, fucoxanthin, etc. This chapter focuses on various algae derived bioactives and their wide range of applications. 

 In tropical and sub-tropical countries, spices have a long history in traditional food preparations. Several spices are described to have medicinal effects. Among them are Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Trachyspermum ammi L. belonging to the Apiaceae family are the most common spices known for their highly aromatic nature and flavor with culinary and traditional uses. F. vulgare seeds increase urine flow, improve the digestive system, promote menstruation and improve milk flow. Various pharmacological activities of F. vulgare such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, estrogenic, acaricidal, antihirutism, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic, have been reported in the literature. T. ammi seeds are used for relieving flatulence, dyspepsia, spasmodic disorders, common cold, acute pharyngitis, sore and congested throat, dipsomania, and hysteria. T. ammi seeds are reported to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nematicidal, antihelmintic, and gastroprotective activities. The review presents an overview of the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological properties of F. vulgare and T. ammi seeds.

Farm animals have a crucial role in producing sources of protein and other nutritive products for humans. However, these animals are confronting diverse challenging ailments and subsequent oxidative stress, which reduces the efficiency of production and impairs animal welfare. Bioactive compounds obtained from plants and other natural provenances have now been accredited as the crucial steppingstone against the numerous persistent diseases encountered by farm animals. Bioactive compounds possess remarkable molecular diversity and modulate numerous metabolic processes with high precedence goals, low toxicity, exhibiting high efficacy with low cost, easy availability with less or no side effects. In this context, the chapter addresses recently observed bioactive compounds for the treatment of various livestock diseases. Moreover, an attempt to consolidate information on numerous bioactive compounds has been made which brings aid in unrelenting research into potential use

Hemidesmus indicus R. Br. is a laticiferous, slender, and twining shrub, which is found over almost every part of India. Its roots (Anantmul - Sanskrit meaning: endless root) are particularly used extensively as a single drug and in formulations with other plants to treat several ailments. In view of the wide range of medicinal properties claimed in traditional medicine, significant efforts have been made to determine the efficacy of Hemidesmus indicus through pharmacological experiments in vitro and in vivo models. These include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, antiarthritic, hepatoprotective, antiepileptic, anticonvulsant, antiulcer, antivenom, antiacne, and antipsychotic activities. Recent studies have also established antidiabetic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-venom, and wound healing activities. Extensive phytochemical investigations have been carried out by several research groups. The present review provides an overview of the bioactive compounds of this Indian medicinal plant. Several classes of compounds, viz. triterpenoids, steroids, steroid glycosides, coumarin-lignoids, flavonoids in addition to many simpler compounds, have been isolated and characterised from different parts of H. indicus. These are listed, along with brief write-ups on isolation procedures, spectroscopical and chemical characterization, and their biological properties. Particular emphasis is given to the anti-diabetic properties associated with it, indicus root extracts, and the factors contributing to these properties

Exposure to pesticides has become a major toxic threat to human and non-target species in India due to the extensive use of chemical-based pesticides in agriculture and for public health purposes. Pesticide induced DNA damage is caused by exposure to certain carcinogenic pesticides through DNA adduct formation and generating altered cells, and subsequently leading to health hazards including cancer. Bio-pesticides are available to prevent the menace of pesticides on human health, such as integrated pest management, use of personal protective measures, or use of nonchemical. Being an agrarian country and its sole dependency on agriculture sectors for most rural employment, India continues to expect its dependency on chemical pesticides, as evident from the high annual demand for pesticides. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an effective approach to reduce the harmful impacts of unavoidable human encounters with toxic pesticides. In this endeavor, preventive measures in the form of functional foods and dietary antioxidants could be employed as one of the complementary and alternative therapeutic approaches to counteract against the ill effects of pesticides in humans. In the past, tea polyphenols have demonstrated an excellent ability to reduce toxicant-induced cellular damage, and DNA damage through mutations, apoptosis, and cancer. In the present review, we have summarized the research carried out on the use of tea polyphenols to counter pesticide toxicity so far and discussed it further from the viewpoint of International and national importance

The rising of chronic ailments impinged on humans worldwide has paved the urgent need for newer therapeutic vital compounds that are biologically active and have the capacity to endeavour without exerting any adverse or cytotoxic effects. This necessitates extensive research to investigate unexplored natural sources for such promising sources. A diverse array of fungi species has garnered considerable attention over the past century due to the assortment of their opportunities to generate novel active ingredients with multifunction mechanisms towards recuperative applications. Some of the fungal bioactive compounds possess exclusive therapeutic potential and pharmaceutical importance. These efficacious bioactive compounds including Paclitaxel, Podophyllotoxin, Enniatins, Camptothecin, Ascophytatin with their properties like anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, immunomodulatory are discussed in this chapter. 

The history of usage of herbal medicine is as old as human civilization. Plant-based drugs have been an invaluable and incredible source for several medical treatments in the traditional system of medicine. With technological advances, it has become possible to get a clear understanding of active compounds behind the therapeutic effectiveness of these drugs. Plant-derived immunomodulators are one such class of compounds, considered safe alternatives than synthetic immunomodulators which cause serious side effects. These agents can increase the body’s immune responsiveness against pathogens by activating both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Phyto drugs have gained more interest due to their multi-pharmacological potential of being antioxidant, adaptogen, etc. along with immunomodulator. The current book chapter focuses on a few extensively scrutinized immunomodulatory phytocompounds from medicinal plants such as Tinospora cordifolia, Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, Terminalia chebula, and Piper longum. Phytomedicines from these plants have displayed significant immunomodulatory potential in a variety of experimental (in vitro and in vivo) models, few compounds have exhibited good therapeutic potential in clinical trials also.

The pure or standardized extracts obtained from microbes like bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, etc. are considered important sources of bioactive compounds. Some of the microbes show inhibitory action against the growth of certain bacteria, fungi, yeast, insects, etc. This provides opportunities for the development of newer drugs and enzymes or beneficial compounds. Large number of bacteria are responsible for producing different bioactive compounds like antibiotics, enzymes, and other secondary metabolites. Some compounds like Gallic acid, Amicoumacin, Prodigiosin, Nystatin, Spinosad, Milbemycin, Lipstatin, Subtilin, Albaflavenone, and Mollemycin A have been studied for their affectivity against bacterial, fungal, insects, pests, etc. These compounds are gaining increasing interest because of their unique composition and the possibility of wide industrial applications.