Terpenes are among the most diverse kinds of natural products because of their remarkable chemical variety. Numerous biological characteristics of terpenoids have been documented, including their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic effects, as well as their cancer chemopreventive benefits. Additionally, terpenes are utilized in the manufacturing of organic solvents, varnishes, inks, adhesives, synthetic polymers, natural rubbers, cleaning supplies, biofuels, insecticides, and food and beverage items. Terpenes are therefore highly valued in modern medicine, pharmacy, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and other fields. Plant oils, including terpenes, have been used to treat a variety of diseases without a full understanding of the roles or modes of action of particular bioactive substances. Many of these compounds are only present in nature in extremely small amounts; thus, methods such as metabolic engineering and synthetic biology are used to harvest them in large quantities in order to produce enough medicine. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the biochemistry, phytochemical properties, and pharmacological activities of terpenes in metabolic disorders.

Cefotaxime (CTX) is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. However, like other third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics, its efficacy is declining due to the increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Recent advances in nanotechnology have been projected as a practical approach to combat MDR microorganisms. Therefore, in the current study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared using cefotaxime sodium, which acted as a reducing and capping agent, besides having well-established antibacterial activity. The synthesized cefotaxime-loaded gold nanoparticles (C-AuNPs) were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM and DLS. In addition, the in vitro antibacterial activity of C-AuNPs was assessed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. UV-Visible spectroscopy verified the formation of C-AuNPs, while TEM and DLS verified their nano-size. In addition, CTX loading onto AuNPs was confirmed by FTIR. Furthermore, the colloidal stability of the synthesized C-AuNPs was ascribed to the higher net negative surface charge of C-AuNPs. Most importantly, the synthesized C-AuNPs showed superior antibacterial activity and lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, compared with pure CTX. Collectively, CTX was successfully adopted, as reducing and capping agent, to synthesize stable, nano-sized spherical C-AuNPs. Furthermore, loading CTX onto AuNPs could efficiently restore and/or boost the antibacterial activity of CTX against resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Rauwolfia serpentina (R. serpentina), belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is a renowned medicinal herb for its different pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative characteristics. This study has done a comparative assessment of the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activity of R. serpentina aqueous leaf extract (RSALE) with encapsulated gold nanoparticles (R-AuNPs). The R-AuNPs are prepared so that they are significant in size, monodispersed, and extremely stable. Their characterization was done by numerous parameters, including UV-visible spectroscopy (528 nm), transmission electron microscopy (~17 d. nm), dynamic light scattering (~68 d. nm), and zeta-potential (~−17 mV). Subsequently, a potent antibacterial activity was depicted via RSALE and R-AuNPs when examined by disc diffusion against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The obtained zones of inhibition of RSALE (100 mg/mL) were 34 ± 0.1, 35 ± 0.1, 28.4 ± 0.01, and 18 ± 0.01, although those of R-AuNPs (15 mg/mL) were 24.4 ± 0.12, 22 ± 0.07, 20 ± 0.16, and 17 ± 0.3 against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 8114), and Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), respectively. However, no zone of inhibition was obtained when tested against Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 1771). Furthermore, the obtained MIC values for Staphylococcus aureus were 0.91, 0.61, and 1.15 mg/mL; for Escherichia coli, 0.79, 0.36, and 1.02 mg/mL; for Bacillus subtilis 0.42, 0.27, and 0.474 mg/mL; and for Streptococcus pyogenes, 7.67, 3.86, and 8.5 mg/mL of pure RSALE, R-AuNPs, and Amoxicillin (control), respectively, incorporating that R-AuNPs have been shown to have a 1.4-fold, 2.1-fold, 1.5-fold, and 1.9-fold enhanced antibacterial activity in contrast to pure RSALE tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Proteus vulgaris, respectively. Additionally, an enhanced antioxidant potential was detected in R-AuNPs compared to RSALE evaluated by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picryl Hydrazyl Radical Scavenging (DPPH) Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The determined IC 50 values of RSALE and R-AuNPs were 0.131 ± 0.05 and 0.184 ± 0.02 mg/mL, and 0.110 ± 0.1 and 0.106 ± 0.24 mg/mL via the FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively. In addition, the anti-cancer activity against the human cervical cancer (Hela) cell line was evaluated, and the MTT assay results revealed that R-AuNPs (IC₅₀ 88.3 µg/mL) had an enhanced anti-cancer potential in contrast to RSALE (171.5 µg/mL). Subsequently, the findings of this study indicated that R. serpentina leaves and their nanoformulation can be used as a potent source for the treatment of the above-mentioned complications and can be used as a possible agent for novel target-based therapies for the management of different ailments.

New antibiotics are seen as ‘drugs of last resort’ against virulent bacteria. However, development of resistance towards new antibiotics with time is a universal fact. Delafloxacin (DFX) is a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic that differs from existing fluoroquinolones by the lack of a protonatable substituent, which gives the molecule a weakly acidic nature, affording it higher antibacterial activity under an acidic environment. Furthermore, antibiotic-functionalized metallic nanoparticles have been recently emerged as a feasible platform for conquering bacterial resistance. In the present study, therefore, we aimed at preparing DFX-gold nano-formulations to increase the antibacterial potential of DFX. To synthesize DFX-capped gold nanoparticles (DFX-AuNPs), DFX was used as a reducing and stabilizing/encapsulating agent. Various analytical techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, TEM, DLS, FTIR and zeta potential analysis were applied to determine the properties of the synthesized DFX-AuNPs. The synthesized DFX-AuNPs revealed a distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 530 nm and an average size of 16 nm as manifested by TEM analysis. In addition, Zeta potential results (−19 mV) confirmed the stability of the synthesized DFX-AuNPs. Furthermore, FTIR analysis demonstrated that DFX was adsorbed onto the surface of AuNPs via strong interaction between AuNPs and DFX. Most importantly, comparative antibacterial analysis of DFX alone and DFX-AuNPs against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) verified the superior antibacterial activity of DFX-AuNPs against the tested microorganisms. To sum up, DFX gold nano-formulations can offer a promising possible solution, even at a lower antibiotic dose, to combat pathogenic bacteria.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a member of the immunoglobulin family that is overexpressed in several cancers. RAGE is highly expressed in the lung, and its expression increases proportionally at the site of inflammation. This receptor can bind a variety of ligands, including advanced glycation end products, high mobility group box 1, S100 proteins, adhesion molecules, complement components, advanced lipoxidation end products, lipopolysaccharides, and other molecules that mediate cellular responses related to acute and chronic inflammation. RAGE serves as an important node for the initiation and stimulation of cell stress and growth signaling mechanisms that promote carcinogenesis, tumor propagation, and metastatic potential. In this review, we discuss different aspects of RAGE and its prominent ligands implicated in cancer pathogenesis and describe current findings that provide insights into the significant role played by RAGE in cancer. Cancer development can be hindered by inhibiting the interaction of RAGE with its ligands, and this could provide an effective strategy for cancer treatment.

Known for its high nutritional and medicinal value, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is commonly used for replacing plasma and expanding blood volume in humans. It is a major economic crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate and evaluate the nutritional properties and prospective applications of the consumable parts of okra. The total ash content (mineral content), carbohydrate, crude fiber, fat, protein, and moisture fractions of okra pod aqueous extract were determined. The results show that okra aqueous extract contained 84.670–87.650% moisture, 1.514–1.197% ash, 7.857–8.261% carbohydrate, 2.367–3.410% crude protein, and 6.781–8.314% crude fiber. Okra was determined to have high nutritional value, with γ-tocopherol and α-tocopherol contents about 2.67 mg/100 g and 1.62 mg/100 g, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to determine the sugars present in okra aqueous extract. The water-soluble polysaccharide content was 10.22–16.45 g/100 g. The tested aqueous extract was a rich source of total phenolic compounds in gallic acid equivalents (288.2–3426.2 mg/100 g), chlorophyll a (3.53 mg/100), chlorophyll b (2.43 mg/100), and carotenoids (1.3 mg/100 g). The detected minerals were Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, K, Na, and Mn. Atomic absorption spectrometry analysis of these ashed minerals was performed. In addition to the nutritional benefits, okra pods exhibited antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. The aqueous extract was found to be potentially active against bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC value = 21.8 mg/mL), Escherichia coli (MIC value = 18.7 mg/mL), Bacillus cereus (MIC value = 20.7 mg/mL), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC value = 20.2 mg/mL). Okra aqueous extract exhibited inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 120 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 115 µg/mL). The okra extract exhibited high anticancer activity, concentration-dependent and with an IC₅₀ value of about 158.3 mg/mL. The results indicated that okra pods have nutritional and medicinal properties and, hence, can be used as a functional food and broad-spectrum nutraceutical supplement.