Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide with attractive therapeutic potential due to a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant action. Fucoidan is typically found in the cell wall of marine brown algae, but extra-algal sources have also been discovered. In the present work, for the first time we extracted a water soluble fucoidan fraction from the roots of the terrestrial shrub Ferula hermonis. This fucoidan fraction was termed FUFe, and contained fucose, glucose, sulfate, smaller amounts of monosaccharides such as galactose and mannose, and a minor quantity of proteins. FUFe structural features were investigated by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The antioxidant property of FUFe was measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, which revealed a high radical scavenging capacity that was confirmed in in vitro cellular models. In hepatic and endothelial cells, 50 μg/mL FUFe could reduce ROS production induced by intracellular lipid accumulation. Moreover, in hepatic cells FUFe exhibited a significant antisteatotic action, being able to reduce intracellular triglyceride content and to regulate the expression of key genes of hepatic lipid metabolism. Altogether, our results candidate FUFe as a possible bioactive compound against fatty liver disease and related vascular damage.

Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide typically found in the cell wall of marine algae but also recently isolated from terrestrial sources. Due to a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant properties, fucoidan exhibits an attractive therapeutic potential against a wide array of metabolic diseases associated with oxidative stress. We used FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to investigate the structural features of a fucoidan fraction extracted from the brown alga Cystoseira compressa (CYS). The antioxidant potential of CYS was measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, which revealed a radical scavenging capacity that was confirmed in in vitro cellular models of hepatic and endothelial cells. The same antioxidant effects were observed for another fucoidan fraction previously identified in the terrestrial tree Eucalyptus globulus (EUC). Moreover, in hepatic cells, CYS and EUC exhibited a significant antisteatotic action, being able to reduce intracellular triglyceride content through the regulation of key genes of hepatic lipid metabolism. EUC exerted stronger antioxidant and antisteatotic effects as compared to CYS, suggesting that both marine and terrestrial sources should be considered for fucoidan extraction and therapeutic applications.

Thymoquinone enhances the antioxidant and anticancer activity of Lebanese propolis

Objectives: Sarcopoterium spinosum represents a medicinal Mediterranean species of significant scientific interest, owing to its rich phytochemical composition and well-documented health-promoting properties. Most studies have focused on plant material from Palestine, Jordan, and Turkey, mainly on its aerial parts and roots, while the fruit material from Lebanon remains largely underexplored. Given that oxidative stress is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, we assessed the radical scavenging and anticancer activities of extracts from Lebanese Sarcopoterium spinosum fruits. Methods: Phytochemicals were extracted from these fruits using three solvents: ethanol, water, and a mixture of both, and the chemical composition of the extracts was evaluated by qualitative phytochemical screening. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. The radical scavenging activity of the three fruit extracts was assessed by the ability to neutralize DPPH free radicals. Moreover, their inhibitory effect on the viability of non-cancerous intestinal cells as well as on colorectal and breast cancer cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. Results: Our findings showed that the ethanol/water solvent was the most effective at extracting phenolic and flavonoid compounds from the fruits. Moreover, the three fruit extracts demonstrated effective DPPH free radical scavenging potential, with the ethanol/water and ethanol extracts exhibiting the greatest effects. Furthermore, the three fruit extracts inhibited the viability of colorectal and breast cancer cells with the ethanol/water extract displaying the most potent effect. Although the three fruit extracts did not have hemolytic activity, they reduced the viability of non-cancerous intestinal cells, with the ethanol extract exerting the highest effect. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that despite the promising radical scavenging and anticancer potential of Sarcopoterium spinosum fruit extracts, their effects on non-cancerous cells warrant careful evaluation and further safety studies.

More than three decades have passed since adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) was first identified as a distinct disease in Japan. During this time, researchers discovered its causative agent—the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). HTLV-1 infection has a significant global prevalence, affecting an estimated 5–10 million individuals worldwide. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of HTLV-1 persistence, latency, replication, and oncogenesis, with a particular focus on the roles of viral proteins such as Tax, HBZ, Rex, p30, p12, and p8. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies against HTLV-1-associated diseases, including ATL. Additionally, we explore current treatment strategies for ATL, including conventional chemotherapy, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and epigenetic therapies. Gaining deeper insights into HTLV-1 pathogenesis, its molecular drivers and the existing therapeutic approaches can pave the way for more refined and innovative strategies to combat HTLV-1-associated malignancies.