It has been shown in multiple experimental and biological investigations that kaempferol, an edible flavonoid generated from plants, may be used as an anti-cancer drug and has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Many signaling pathways are altered in cancer cells, resulting in cell growth inhibition and death in various tumor types. Cancer is a multifaceted illness coordinated by multiple external and internal mechanisms. Natural extracts with the fewest side effects have piqued the attention of researchers in recent years, attempting to create cancer medicines based on them. An extensive array of natural product-derived anti-cancer agents have been examined to find a successful method. Numerous fruits and vegetables have high levels of naturally occurring flavonoid kaempferol, and its pharmacological and biological effects have been studied extensively. Certain forms of cancer are sensitive to kaempferol-mediated anti-cancer activity, although complete research is needed. We have endeavored to concentrate our review on controlling carcinogenic pathways by kaempferol in different malignancies. Aside from its extraordinary ability to modify cell processes, we have also discussed how kaempferol has the potential to be an effective therapy for numerous tumors.

Pinus eldarica (Pinaceae), an evergreen plant, is distributed across the warm and dry climates of western Asia, including Asia Minor, the Middle East, and land surrounding the Caspian Sea. Essential oils (EOs) from different aerial parts of this tree have been used in traditional medicine. We aimed to investigate the chemical profile and antimicrobial activity of the EO from P. eldarica grown in northwestern Iran. EO from the needles, bark, and pollen were extracted with boiling water using a Clevenger apparatus at yield of 0.7–1.2 cm³/100 g of dry plant material. The main chemical components of the EO from the needles were D-germacrene (18.17%), caryophyllene (15.42%), γ-terpinene (12.96%), and β-pinene (10.62%); those from the bark were limonene (16.99%), caryophyllene oxide (13.22%), and drimenol (13.2%); and those from the pollen were α-pinene (25.64%) and limonene (19.94%). In total, 83 constituents were characterized in the EOs, using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis; mainly, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in needle EO and monoterpene hydrocarbons in pollen and bark EOs. β-Pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene were identified in the EOs from all three plant parts. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of the EOs were examined: pollen EO exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli; bark EO inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus; and the needle EO inhibited the growth of S. aureus. Thus, the EOs from aerial parts of P. eldarica can benefit the EO industry and antibiotic development.

The incidence of various types of cancer is increasing globally. To reduce the critical side effects of cancer chemotherapy, naturally derived compounds have been considered for cancer treatment. Gymnosperms are a group of plants found worldwide that have traditionally been used for therapeutic applications. Paclitaxel is a commercially available anticancer drug derived from gymnosperms. Other natural compounds with anticancer activities, such as pinostrobin and pinocembrin, are extracted from pine heartwood, and pycnogenol and enzogenol from pine bark. Gymnosperms have great potential for further study for the discovery of new anticancer compounds. This review aims to provide a rational understanding and the latest developments in potential anticancer compounds derived from gymnosperms.

Background and Aims: SARS‐CoV‐2, as a new pandemic disease, affected the world. Short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetic, propionic, and butyric acids are the main metabolites of human gut microbiota. The positive effects of SCFAs have been shown in infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza, and rhinovirus. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the concentration of SCFAs in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 compared with the healthy group.Methods: This research was designed based on a case and control study. Twenty healthy individuals as the control group and 20 persons admitted to the hospital with a positive test of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) real‐time polymerase chain reaction were included in the study as the patient group from September 2021 to October 2021, in Tabriz, Iran. Stool specimens were collected from volunteers, and analysis of SCFAs was carried out by a high‐performance liquid chromatography system.Results: The amount of acetic acid in the healthy group was 67.88 ± 23.09 μmol/g, while in the group of patients with COVID‐19 was 37.04 ± 13.29 μmol/g. Therefore, the concentration of acetic acid in the patient group was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in the healthy group. Propionic and butyric acid were present in a higher amount in the control group compared with the case group; however, this value was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that the concentration of acetic acid as the metabolite caused by gut microbiota is significantly disturbed in patients with COVID‐19. Therefore, therapeutic interventions based on gut microbiota metabolites in future research may be effective against COVID‐19.

This study aimed to determine the effects of combined aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil (LEO) and Bergamot (Citrus×bergamia (Risso) Risso & Poit) essential oil (BEO) and/or mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) on menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, and serum cortisol. This factorial randomized controlled trial included 132 postmenopausal 132 postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years with mild to moderate anxiety. The recruited women were divided into four groups receiving: 1) Control: Usual care + placebo, 2) Therapy: MBT + placebo, 3) Aromatherapy: LEO + BEO Aromatherapy + usual care, and 4) Therapy & Aromatherapy: MBT + LEO-BEO aromatherapy. Participants in the aromatherapy and placebo groups were instructed to apply 2-3 drops of the assigned solution to their forearm skin and inhale it three times daily for eight weeks. Weekly MBT sessions were held over two months. After two months, the aromatherapy group showed reduced total scores for menopausal symptoms [adjusted mean difference (aMD) (95 % CI): -5.7 (-9.5 to -1.8)] and anxiety [aMD (95 % CI): -1.9 (-3.4 to -0.4)] compared to the control group. Sleep quality, measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), improved in both the therapy [aMD (95 % CI): -2.6 (-4.2 to -1.0)] and aromatherapy [aMD (95 % CI): -1.7 (-3.3 to -0.1)] groups versus controls. However, the combined intervention showed no significant effects compared to control (p > 0.05). Serum cortisol levels did not differ significantly across groups (p > 0.05). MBT and LEO-BEO aromatherapy demonstrated favorable outcomes in managing menopausal symptoms and sleep quality. The combination therapy did not yield additional benefits. The registration number: IRCT20131009014957N8 The registration date: 04/12/2019.

Background: Ruscus specie are used as traditional medicine, food, and foliage. The aim of this work is the determination of fatty acid composition of Ruscus hyrcanus as a native medicinal plant of Iran for the first time together with comparison of different esterification methods. Methods: Two different esterification methods were used for preparation of esterified fatty acids from different extracts of underground and aerial parts of the herb. GC/MS analysis were used for identification and quantification of fatty acids. Finally, the results were compared. Results: Findings showed that R. hyrcanus is rich in essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (13-25%) and linolenic acid (23-44%). Also, oil samples contain remarkable amount of palmitic acid (19-57%). Conclusion: The results showed that R. hyrcanus could be considered as a source of essential fatty acids. Also, it could be concluded that a simple esterification method with methanolic KOH and 2 min vortex is suitable for fatty acid analysis of Ruscus species.