Aim: Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represent critical neurological disorders that have emerged as significant health concerns in the 21st century. The pharmacological interventions currently employed to manage these diseases demonstrate limited efficacy and some adverse side effects. Historically, natural products have been used to develop therapeutic agents targeting neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to apply in silico techniques to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of capsaicin as a possible alternative treatment or coadjutant phytotherapy for PD and AD. Methods: We obtained target genes for capsaicin, PD, and AD from the HERB database, the Swiss Target Prediction database, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform, and matched them. Subsequently, we constructed a protein-protein interaction network and performed enrichment analysis of the common targets. Then, the interactions of capsaicin with the proteins with the highest degree were tested using molecular docking. The stability of the complexes was verified using molecular dynamics techniques. Results: A total of 25 targets were found in common from the databases for capsaicin, AD, and PD. The enrichment analysis revealed that proteins from these targets influenced integrin activity in the IGF1-IGF1R complex, cholinesterase activity, and dopamine neurotransmitter receptor activity, all of which are coupled via protein Gi/Go, among other cellular processes. From the protein-protein interaction network, we identified the hub proteins IL6, GSK3B, CASP, BCL2, ESR1, SIRT1, NGF, IGF1, and HMOX1. Furthermore, molecular docking studies between hub proteins and capsaicin showed strong binding affinity. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations support a stable interaction between capsaicin and SIRT1, ESR1, HMOX1, and NGF. Conclusions: This work contributes to understanding the neuroprotective activity of capsaicin in PD and AD. However, these bioinformatic predictions require further experimental validation.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana, a succulent herbaceous plant in the Crassulaceae family from Madagascar, has gained global popularity as an ornamental and medicinal species. This review examines the traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological properties, toxicological aspects, and regulatory challenges of K. daigremontiana. The traditional medicinal uses of its leaves and roots include treating burns, rheumatic disorders, hypertension, diabetes, kidney pain, diarrhea, cough, fever, gastric issues, anxiety, inflammation, and cancer. Chemical compounds identified include phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, sterols, terpenes, and fatty acids, with phenolic compounds and bufadienolides being predominant. In vitro studies of the crude extracts, bufadienolide-rich fractions, and isolated compounds have shown antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-aging, cytotoxic, antitumoral, and antiproliferative properties. In vivo studies have demonstrated hepatoprotective, skincare, and cardiac-glycoside-like effects. While crude extracts and bufadienolide-rich fractions have shown toxic effects in 2-week-old chicks, guinea pigs, and Artemia salina, no toxicity has been reported in goats, broiler chickens, laying hens, or human erythrocytes. Although K. daigremontiana-based products are commercially available as dietary supplements with various health claims, these lack scientific validation. Despite the potential pharmaceutical applications of K. daigremontiana, further research is needed to determine its effects, dosage, mechanisms, long-term safety, and side effects, with clinical studies essential to validate its therapeutic potential.

The demand for sustainable nutrients and bioactive compounds has increased interest in underutilized wild plants. Forestiera tomentosa, a Mexican drupe-bearing species, is largely unexplored. This study evaluated the proximate composition, physicochemical and functional properties, phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and toxicological safety of F. tomentosa fruit. The fruit showed high carbohydrate content [71.94% dry weight (DW)], with notable crude fiber (7.90% DW), protein (7.39% DW), and lipid (4.30% DW) contents. Analysis revealed a mildly acidic pH (5.66), titratable acidity of 0.32%, and total soluble solids of 2.33 °Brix. The fruit powder had a low water activity (0.42) and a favorable water solubility index (56.10%), oil absorption (4.54%), and foaming capacity (19.71%). The fruit contained high levels of soluble phenols (280.42 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (98.89 mg CE/g DW), anthocyanins (54.53 mg C3G/g DW), and condensed tannins (94.05 mg CE/g DW). High-performance liquid chromatography identified 20 phenolic compounds, with 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, syringic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and gallocatechin being predominant. The fruit showed significant radical scavenging and reducing potential (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP). Toxicological evaluation using the Artemia salina bioassay showed a 100% survival rate across all concentrations, indicating no acute toxicity. In silico ADMET predictions revealed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high intestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five. These findings position F. tomentosa as a promising, non-toxic source of functional ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries, supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential health benefits of this fruit in vitro and in vivo.

The genus Serjania (family Sapindaceae) comprises more than 240 species, primarily distributed in Brazil and Mexico, and it exhibits considerable ethnobotanical and therapeutic potential. Ethnobotanical evidence documents the widespread use of decoctions prepared from the leaves, stems, and roots of Serjania species for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, renal pain, inflammatory conditions, and infections. Among the most extensively studied species are S. marginata, S. erecta, S. lethalis, S. caracasana, S. goniocarpa, S. schiedeana, S. yucatenensis, S. triquetra, and S. racemose. Phytochemical research has identified a diverse array of bioactive secondary metabolites, including saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and terpenoids. Significant experimental evidence supports the broad spectrum of biological activities of these Serjania species, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, gastroprotective, antihypertensive, analgesic, antivenom, cytotoxic, antimutagenic, anti-ulcer, photoprotective, antiparasitic, and vasorelaxant effects, as demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models. Although preliminary toxicity assessments of extracts from some Serjania species in murine models, Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), and Artemia salina suggest a favorable safety profile, significant research gaps remain. Additionally, several Serjania species have shown potential as natural pesticides and bioherbicides, highlighting their relevance in agricultural applications. Future studies should prioritize the isolation and structural characterization of individual bioactive compounds, as well as the elucidation of their molecular mechanisms of action, moving beyond crude extract-based screening approaches. Overall, this review summarizes current knowledge on traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Serjania species.

Introduction: Considering the shared physiological mechanisms between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), it is plausible that certain compounds may exert therapeutic effects on both neurological disorders. This study aimed to employ in silico techniques to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of huperzine A (HA) as an alternative treatment for PD and AD. Methods: Molecular targets of HA and genes associated with AD and PD were identified from public databases. Gene Ontology analysis, metabolic pathway analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction were performed to identify shared molecular targets. Molecular docking was performed to assess HA affinity for hub proteins and to compare it with that of drugs used to treat AD and PD. Results: The results suggested that HA interacts with 77 molecular targets common to both diseases. Enrichment analysis revealed that proteins from these targets were involved in biological functions, such as serotonin and amine binding. Hub proteins (SRC, TP53, AKT1, and CASP3) were identified from the PPI network. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations showed favorable binding of HA to the hub proteins and adequate binding to the targets of standard drugs (MAOB and ACHE). On the other hand, molecular dynamics analyses were performed to compare the binding characteristics of HA with those of the control targets. Discussion: HA may modulate SRC, CASP3, and AKT1, suggesting a pleiotropic mechanism underlying the association between AD and PD. These computational findings provide a rational basis for experimental validation by modulating signaling pathways implicated in inflammatory processes and inhibiting enzymes involved in neurotransmitter degradation. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of the neuroprotective activity of HA in AD and PD. However, further in vitro and in vivo investigations are required to confirm the dual therapeutic potential of HA in the treatment of AD and PD.