Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge due to its resistance to standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The emergence of androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) has been implicated in CRPC progression, contributing to treatment resistance. Current treatments, including first-generation chemotherapy, androgen receptor blockers, radiation therapy, immune therapy, and PARP inhibitors, often come with substantial side effects and limited efficacy. Natural compounds, particularly those derived from herbal medicine, have garnered increasing interest as adjunctive therapeutic agents against CRPC. This review explores the role of AR-V7 in CRPC and highlights the promising benefits of natural compounds as complementary treatments to conventional drugs in reducing CRPC and overcoming therapeutic resistance. We delve into the mechanisms of action underlying the anti-CRPC effects of natural compounds, showcasing their potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes while mitigating the side effects associated with conventional therapies. The exploration of natural compounds offers promising avenues for developing novel treatment strategies that enhance therapeutic outcomes and reduce the adverse effects of conventional CRPC therapies. These compounds provide a safer, more effective approach to managing CRPC, representing a significant advancement in improving patient care.

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, necessitating new treatment strategies. Bioactive natural products are a promising source of anticancer drugs because of their complex structures and ability to target multiple pathways, such as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. However, issues like poor solubility, stability, and bioavailability have limited their clinical use. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery offers a revolutionary approach by improving the pharmacokinetics and targeted delivery of anticancer agents, including natural compounds. Different types of nanoparticles, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and metallic nanoparticles, use the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect to increase drug accumulation in tumors while reducing off-target toxicity. This study explores the potential of combining natural products with nanoparticle delivery systems to overcome drug resistance and enhance therapeutic effectiveness. It highlights significant achievements, including FDA-approved nanoparticle-based drugs and innovative combination therapies. The review also discusses current limitations, such as toxicity, scalability, and regulatory hurdles, while looking ahead to emerging themes like smart nanoparticles and personalized medicine. Ultimately, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating bioactive natural products with nanotechnology, presents future research directions, and advocates for translational studies and clinical trials to advance cancer treatment.

Background: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms, often discarded as agricultural by-products, are a promising and sustainable source of bioactive metabolites with potential therapeutic relevance. However, their anticancer potential remains largely underinvestigated. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extracts from fresh (HEEF) and stored (HEES) saffron corms and to evaluate their anticancer effectiveness against colorectal cancer cells. Methods: Phytochemical profiling was performed using HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Cytotoxicity against T84 and SW480 colorectal cancer cell lines was determined by the crystal violet assay. Apoptosis-related protein modulation was assessed by Western blotting. Additionally, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM/GBSA calculations were used to investigate ligand–target binding affinities and stability. Results: Both extracts contained diverse primary and secondary metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, lignans, anthraquinones, carotenoids, sugars, and fatty acids. HEES showed higher relative abundance of key bioactive metabolites than HEEF, which was enriched mainly in primary metabolites. HEES showed significantly greater dose-dependent cytotoxicity, particularly against SW480 cells after 24 h (IC₅₀ = 34.85 ± 3.35). Apoptosis induction was confirmed through increased expression of caspase-9 and p53 in T84 cells. In silico studies revealed strong and stable interactions of major metabolites, especially 3,8-dihydroxy-1-methylanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid with COX2 and crocetin with VEGFR2. Conclusions: Stored saffron corms possess a richer bioactive profile and show enhanced anticancer effects in vitro compared with fresh saffron corms, suggesting that they may represent a promising source of compounds for the future development of colorectal cancer therapeutics.

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide. According to the World Heart Federation, more than 500 million people were living with cardiovascular diseases in 2021. In this context, the use of medicinal plants has become increasingly widespread in populations as a preventive strategy against cardiovascular disorders. Foeniculum vulgare Mill., commonly known as fennel, is an aromatic and medicinal plant recognized for its beneficial properties in the treatment of various ailments, due to its richness in bioactive compounds. This review aims to summarize and analyze the cardiovascular activities of this plant, based on experimental evidence, and to provide an updated overview of its phytochemical composition and safety profile. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, encompassing all publications available up to 2024. This search included research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and clinical studies published in English. Exclusion criteria comprised publication types such as letters, conference abstracts, unpublished theses, and non-peer-reviewed reports. Studies were also excluded if they did not specifically address Foeniculum vulgare Mill. or its cardiovascular activities. All studies were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and relevant data were systematically extracted and analyzed to synthesize current knowledge on the cardiovascular activities, mechanisms of action, phytochemical composition, safety, and potential drug interactions of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Results: Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that Foeniculum vulgare Mill. exhibits a wide range of activities beneficial for cardiovascular health. These include antihypertensive, cardioprotective, vasorelaxant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, diuretic, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, antiplatelet, and anticoagulant effects. Such pharmacological actions are largely attributed to its rich phytochemical composition, particularly its volatile oils (e.g., trans-anethole, fenchone), flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, kaempferol), and phenolic acids (e.g., p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid). Most studies report no significant signs of toxicity. Conclusions: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. emerges as a promising medicinal plant for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases, owing to its multifaceted beneficial effects and its favorable safety profile. However, potential interactions with cardiovascular drugs and the current limitations of existing studies highlight the need for further clinical research to fully establish its therapeutic potential.

Cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, depression, and vascular dementia, are associated with dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems, including acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These disorders are increasingly recognized as multifactorial conditions involving oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic impairment, blood–brain barrier disruption, metabolic imbalance, and gut–brain axis dysregulation. Current pharmacological therapies may provide symptomatic relief; however, their clinical benefits are often limited and associated with adverse effects. Herbal medicines have gained increasing attention as potential complementary approaches for cognitive support and neuroprotection. Preclinical evidence and emerging clinical studies suggest that herbal bioactive compounds may exert neuroprotective effects through antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and neurotransmitter-modulating mechanisms. Medicinal herbs such as Bacopa monnieri, Withania somnifera, Ginkgo biloba, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Moringa oleifera, and ginseng have shown potential cognitive benefits in experimental models and selected human studies. Advanced delivery systems, including nanoparticles and phytosomes, may further improve the bioavailability and brain-targeting efficiency of herbal compounds. However, current clinical evidence remains heterogeneous and limited by insufficient standardization, small sample sizes, and short study durations. Further large-scale clinical studies and standardized safety assessments are essential before herbal neurotherapeutics can be widely applied in cognitive and neurological disorders.