The rising incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC) worldwide, coupled with the limited effectiveness of current chemotherapeutic agents, has prioritized the search for new therapeutic options. Natural substances, which often exhibit cytostatic properties, hold significant promise in this area. This review evaluates the anticancer properties of three natural alkaloids—berberine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine—against CRC and GC. In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that these substances can reduce tumor volume and inhibit the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumors. At the molecular level, these alkaloids disrupt key signaling pathways in cancer cells, including mTOR, MAPK, EGFR, PI3K/AKT, and NF-κB. Additionally, they exhibit immunomodulatory effects, leading to the induction of programmed cell death through both apoptosis and autophagy. Notably, these substances have shown synergistic effects when combined with classical cytostatic agents such as cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, cetuximab, and erlotinib. Furthermore, berberine has demonstrated the ability to restore sensitivity in individuals originally resistant to cisplatin GC. Given these findings, natural compounds emerge as a promising option in the chemotherapy of malignant gastrointestinal tumors, particularly in cases with limited treatment options. However, more research is necessary to fully understand their therapeutic potential.

The global healthcare system is increasingly challenged by the rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the limited therapeutic options for related infections. Efflux-mediated antibiotic resistance represents a significant obstacle, primarily due to the absence of drugs specifically designed to target bacterial efflux pumps. Recent research has identified polyphenols, a broad class of plant-derived organic compounds, as potential inhibitors of efflux pump activity. This review consolidates data on the inhibitory properties of eight widely distributed polyphenols: curcumin, quercetin, luteolin, tannic acid, naringenin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, ellagic acid, and resveratrol. These compounds have demonstrated the capacity to inhibit efflux pumps, either through direct interference with bacterial protein function or by downregulating the expression of genes encoding pump subunits. Importantly, several polyphenols exhibit synergistic interactions with antibiotics, including colistin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. For instance, quercetin has shown inhibitory potency comparable to that of established efflux pump inhibitors such as verapamil and reserpine. These findings suggest that polyphenols represent promising candidates for the development of novel efflux pump inhibitors. However, further research is required to validate their efficacy and safety and facilitate their translation into clinical applications for combating antibiotic resistance.

Disruption of the gut-microbiome-brain axis contributes to the development of chronic inflammation, impaired intestinal barrier integrity, and progressive tissue damage, ultimately reducing quality of life and increasing risk of comorbidities, including neurodegenerative diseases. Current therapies are often limited by adverse effects and insufficient long-term efficacy, highlighting the need for more comprehensive therapeutic approaches. Berberine (BRB), a plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloid, has attracted growing attention due to its pleiotropic immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and gut-homeostasis-modulating properties, which involve reshaping the gut microbiota and underscore its therapeutic relevance within the gut–microbiome–brain axis. The aim of this review is to synthesize current scientific evidence regarding the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of BRB in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We compare its activity with first-line therapies and discuss its impact on microbial composition, including the bidirectional regulation of specific bacterial taxa relevant to intestinal and systemic disorders that originate in the gut. Furthermore, we emphasize that gut bacteria convert BRB into bioactive metabolites, contributing to its enhanced intraluminal activity despite its low systemic bioavailability. By integrating molecular and microbiological evidence, this review fills a critical knowledge gap regarding the comprehensive therapeutic potential of BRB as a promising candidate for future IBD interventions. The novelty of this work lies in unifying fragmented findings into a framework that explains how BRB acts simultaneously at the levels of host immunity, microbial ecology, and neuroimmune communication—thus offering a new conceptual model for its role within the gut–microbiome–brain axis.

Introduction and objective: Nephrolithiasis is a common disease worldwide, and its incidence trend is increasing due to, among other things, an aging population or climate change. Diet is an important factor influencing the risk of the disease; therefore, the purpose of this review article is...

Introduction and Purpose: Ginseng (Panax spp), known as the king of herbs, is one of the most important medicinal plants in East Asia. Its several thousand years of history in medicine is due to its various therapeutic properties, including immunomodulatory and anticancer properties. The aim of this paper is to present the effects of ginseng use on reducing the symptoms of allergic respiratory diseases, which are becoming increasingly common in the population, as described in scientific studies State of knowledge: Animal studies have shown that Panax ginseng reduces inflammation of the respiratory tract through its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on immune system cells. The effectiveness of black ginseng extract in studies on mice was comparable to that of dexamethasone. Korean red ginseng extract showed similar biological activity, alleviating asthma symptoms and reducing allergic inflammatory reactions in the nose, as well as acting as an antioxidant to reduce inflammation. Human studies have shown that red ginseng extract acts similarly to antihistamines, relieving itching of the nose and eyes, reducing nasal discharge, and reducing nasal congestion. Important medicinal components of the plant are ginsenosides, which can, among other things, reduce the number of inflammatory response cells and suppress cytokine expression, thereby reducing allergy symptoms. Conclusions: Ginseng shows promising results in the treatment of allergic respiratory diseases by reducing the severity of clinical symptoms and decreasing inflammatory response indicators. It is worth noting that despite good results, further research on a larger group of patients is still needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.

Introduction and objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children and adults. The pathophysiology is complex, and in recent years an increase in its incidence has been observed. The aim of the article is to present relationships described in...