Plants are a promising source of bioactive compounds that can be used to tackle many emerging diseases both infectious and non-infectious. Among different plants, Acacia is a very large genus and exhibits a diverse array of bioactive agents with remarkable pharmacological properties against different diseases. Acacia, a herb found all over the world, contains approximately more than 1200 species of the Fabaceae family. In the present review, we have collected detailed information on biochemical as well as pharmacological properties. The data were retrieved using different databases, such as Elsevier, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus, and an extensive literature survey was carried out. Studies have shown that Acacia possesses several secondary metabolites, including amines, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, seed oils, cyclitols, fluoroacetate, gums, non-protein amino acids, diterpenes, fatty acids, terpenes, hydrolyzable tannins, and condensed tannins. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmaceutical applications such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiviral, liver protective effects, and so on. Thus, the literature shows the tremendous phytochemical impact of the genus Acacia in medicine. Overall, we recommend that more research should be conducted on the medicinal value and isolation and purification of the effective therapeutic agents from Acacia species for the treatment of various ailments.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative brain disease (NBD) after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Statins are the most common lipid‐lowering agents used in the management of dyslipidemia and the prevention of primary and secondary cardiovascular diseases (CVD) events. In addition, there is a controversial point regarding the role of serum lipids in the pathogenesis of PD. In this bargain, as statins reduce serum cholesterol so they affect the PD neuropathology in bidirectional ways either protective or harmful. Statins are not used in the management of PD, but they are frequently used in the cardiovascular disorders commonly associated with PD in the elderly population. Therefore, the use of statins in that population may affect PD outcomes. Concerning the potential role of statins on PD neuropathology, there are conflicts and controversies either protective against the development of PD or harmful by increasing the risk for the development of PD. Therefore, this review aimed to clarify the precise role of statins in PD regarding the pros and cons from published studies. Many studies suggest a protective role of statins against PD risk through the modulation of inflammatory and lysosomal signaling pathways. Nevertheless, other observations suggest that statin therapy may increase PD risk by diverse mechanisms including reduction of CoQ10. In conclusion, there are strong controversies regarding the protective role of statins in PD neuropathology. Therefore, retrospective and prospective studies are necessary in this regard.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder resulting from the degeneration of dopamenergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Research has predominantly centered on understanding the dysfunction of dopaminergic neurotransmission in PD. Recently, more studies discussed the potential role of other neurotransmitters in PD neuropathology. One of the most important non-dopaminergic neurotransmitters involved in the pathogenesis of PD is glutamate, which is widely involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission in different brain regions, including SNpc. The development and progression of PD neuropathology and levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) are associated with glutamate neurotoxicity. Therefore, this review seeks to explore the possible involvement of glutamatergic signaling in PD development and assess the therapeutic potential of glutamate receptor antagonists in treating the disorder.

Background: The liver is crucial for maintaining normal metabolism in the body. Various substances, such as toxic chemicals, drugs, and alcohol, can damage hepatocyte cells, leading to metabolic imbalances. Aim: The experiment aimed to determine the efficacy of Lagenaria siceraria seed oil (LSS) as a hepatoprotective agent against acute hepatotoxicity triggered by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Methods: A total of 20 rats were randomly separated into four groups. The control group: rats received 2 ml of distilled water orally, followed by 1.25 ml of olive oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) after 30 minutes. CCL4 group: rats were given a single intraperitoneal dose of 1.25 ml/kg b.w. of CCl4 in a 1:1 mixture with olive oil. Silymarin group: received 100 mg of silymarin per kg of b.w. diluted in 2 ml of distilled water orally, followed by CCl4 treatment after 30 minutes. LSS oil group: received LSS oil at 3g/kg b.w. orally, followed by CCl4 treatment after 30 minutes. Blood samples were collected to assess liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP), proteins and bilirubin fractions, and redox status (catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) were assessed in hepatic tissues. Changes in liver histopathological examination were also evaluated. Results: In CCl4-treated rats, there was a significant increase in serum liver marker enzyme activity (ALP, AST and ALT) along with a significant elevation (p < 0.05) in total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, and direct bilirubin compared to the control rats. However, all these parameters decreased in the CCl4+ Silymarin and CCl4+LSS groups compared to CCl4-treated rats. There was a significant decline in total protein level and serum albumin in all experimental groups compared to the control, while globulin levels significantly increased in all experimental groups. There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the level of GSH and catalase, with an increase in MDA level in CCl4 rats compared to other rats. Histopathological investigation of the LSS-treated group showed a hepatoprotective effect against CCl4. Conclusion: The study revealed that LSS oil has antioxidant activity against CCl4-induced toxicity.

Piper acutifolium Ruiz & Pav is known as “matico” and belongs to the Piperaceae family, and in Peru it is traditionally used as an infusion or decoction to ameliorate wound healings or ulcers. In this study, the aim was to investigate the volatile components, the antioxidant profile, and the phytotoxic activity of the essential oil (EO) of P. acutifolium from Peru. To identify the phytoconstituents, the EO was injected into a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to obtain the chemical profile of the volatile components, followed by the antioxidant activity carried out by the reaction with three organic radicals (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH); 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6- sulfonic acid (ABTS); ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP)). Finally, the phytotoxic capabilities of the EO were tested on two model plants, Lactuca sativa seeds and Allium cepa bulbs. As a result, the analysis identified α-phellandrene as its main volatile chemical at 38.18%, followed by β-myrcene (29.48%) and β-phellandrene (21.88%). Regarding the antioxidant profile, the half inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) in DPPH was 160.12 ± 0.30 µg/mL, for ABTS it was 138.10 ± 0.06 µg/mL and finally in FRAP it was 450.10 ± 0.05 µg/mL. The phytotoxic activity demonstrated that the EO had high activity at 5% and 10% against L. sativa seed germination, the inhibition of root length, and hypocotyl length. Additionally, in A. cepa bulbs, the inhibition root length was obtained at 10%, both comparable to glyphosate, which was used as a positive control. The molecular docking on 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) revealed that α-phellandrene had −5.8 kcal/mol, being near to glyphosate at −6.3 kcal/mol. The conclusion shows that the EO of P. acutifolium presented antioxidant and phytotoxic activity and might be useful as a bioherbicide in the future.