Cancer is a significant global health issue and a primary cause of death. Extensive research has led to the development of various anticancer medications, driven by an improved knowledge and comprehension of the molecular pathways involved in cancer growth. However, there is a need for new approaches to enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies. Dietary phytochemicals have gained increasing attention due to their potential role in tumor prevention. These bioactive compounds derived from plants exhibit a wide range of beneficial effects on human health, including their ability to inhibit carcinogenesis and promote anticancer activities. Examples of dietary phytochemicals with promising properties include vitamin D, vitamin E, lycopene, fisetin, genistein, epigallocatechin gallate, crocetin, curcumin, cyanidins, and gingerol. These compounds often exert their effects by regulating interconnected molecular pathways associated with cancer development and progression. Some of these pathways include the apoptosis pathway, cyclooxygenase-2 pathway, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling pathway, DNA methylation-epigenetic pathway, Hedgehog signaling pathway, signal transducer and activator of transcription protein-3 pathway, tumor angiogenesis inhibition pathway, and Wnt pathway. This comprehensive review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the role of dietary phytochemicals in tumor prevention, highlighting their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications.

Plant-based repellents have been used for generations as personal protection against mosquitoes. Ethnobotanical studies provide valuable knowledge for developing natural products. Commercial repellents with plant-based ingredients are popular, but insufficient studies follow Pesticide Evaluation Scheme WHO guidelines. Further standardized studies are needed to evaluate repellent compounds and develop high-repellency and safe products. Essential Oils (EOs) from aromatic plants have gained popularity as low-risk insecticides due to their low toxicity and short environmental persistence. These plant-derived EOs, produced through steam distillation, have repellent, insecticidal, and growth-reducing effects on various insects. They control phytophagous insects, bite flies, and home and garden insects. US registration is the main hurdle for new EOs. This review explores the use of essential oils from plants as a natural repellent, focusing on their effectiveness and synergistic effects. Essential oils are volatile mixtures of hydrocarbons with diverse functional groups, and their effectiveness is linked to monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Synergistic effects can improve their effectiveness, and the use of other natural products, like vanillin, can increase protection time. Cymbopogon spp., Ocimum spp., and Eucalyptus spp. are among the most promising plant families.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and functional impairment. Despite extensive research, the exact etiology remains elusive. This review explores the multifaceted pathophysiology of AD, focusing on key hypotheses such as the cholinergic hypothesis, hyperphosphorylated Tau Protein and Amyloid β hypothesis, oxidative stress hypothesis, and the metal ion hypothesis. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Current treatment options for AD have limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative approaches, including herbal interventions. Cholinesterase inhibitors, targeting the cholinergic hypothesis, have shown modest efficacy in managing symptoms. Blocking Amyloid β (Aβ) and targeting hyperphosphorylated tau protein are under investigation, with limited success in clinical trials. Oxidative stress, implicated in AD pathology, has led to the investigation of antioxidants. Natural products, such as Punica granatum Linn, Radix Scutellariae, and Curcuma longa have demonstrated antioxidant properties, along with anti-inflammatory effects, offering potential neuroprotective benefits. Several herbal extracts, including Ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri, and Withania somnifera, have shown promise in preclinical studies. Compounds like Huperzine A, Melatonin, and Bryostatin exhibit neuroprotective effects through various mechanisms, including cholinergic modulation and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the use of herbal drugs for AD management faces limitations, including standardization issues, variable bioavailability, and potential interactions with conventional medications. Additionally, the efficacy and safety of many herbal products remain to be established through rigorous clinical trials. This review also highlights promising natural products currently in clinical trials, such as Resveratrol and Homotaurine, and their potential impact on AD progression. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, has shown cognitive benefits, while Nicotine is being explored for its neuroprotective effects. In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of the complex pathophysiology of AD and the exploration of herbal interventions offer a holistic approach for managing this devastating disease. Future research should address the limitations associated with herbal drugs and further evaluate the efficacy of promising natural products in clinical settings.

: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles, leading to cognitive and physical decline. Representing the majority of dementia cases, AD poses a significant burden on healthcare systems globally, with onset typically occurring after the age of 65. While most cases are sporadic, about 10% exhibit autosomal forms associated with specific gene mutations. Neurofibrillary tangles and Aβ plaques formed by misfolded tau proteins and Aβ peptides contribute to neuronal damage and cognitive impairment. Currently, approved drugs, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl D-aspartate receptor agonists, offer only partial symptomatic relief without altering disease progression. A promising development is using lecanemab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody, as an immune therapeutic approach. Lecanemab demonstrates selectivity for polymorphic Aβ variants and binds to large soluble Aβ aggregates, providing a potential avenue for targeted treatment. This shift in understanding the role of the adaptive immune response in AD pathogenesis opens new possibilities for therapeutic interventions aiming to address the disease's intricate mechanisms. This review aims to summarize recent advancements in understanding Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology and innovative therapeutic approaches, providing valuable insights for both researchers and clinicians.

Background: This review is delving into determining the content and significance of hypericin, a pharmacologically important constituent commonly known as St. John's Wort (SJW). The paper explores the rich history of Hypericin's traditional use in alternative medicine and the recent surge in scientific interest surrounding its bioactive properties. Objective: This review aims to comprehensively analyse the therapeutic potentials of hypericin, focusing on its chemistry, extraction, sources, stability, pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and multifunctional applications in drug and medicinal fields as well as advancements in Bioengineering Approaches for Enhanced Hypericin Delivery. Methods: We performed a non-systematic search of journals. Literature using computerized methods was conducted, utilizing databases such as Medline (PubMed), ChemSciFinder, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Scirus Library. To effectively identify the most important and relevant research articles, scientific studies, clinical studies and review articles on hypericin were searched using different keywords: “Hypericum”, “traditional use”, “phytochemistry”, “pharmacology”, “drug delivery” and “bioactivity”. Thus, articles available from 1984 to 2024 were analyzed and collected. The selection process for the review primarily considered the originality of the paper and its clinical applications. Results: Although hypericin is not a novel compound within the research community, it is gaining renewed recognition and showing great effectiveness as a promising agent in the field of medical diagnostics and has promising applications as a therapeutic. Conclusion: Here, our current comprehensive review of hypericin, its potential and its activities is intended to contribute to this ongoing process actively. Overall, this review provided theoretical direction for future hypericin research. Future studies should, therefore, focus further on the pharmacological processes, pharmacokinetics, and chemistry of hypericin and hypericin-based drug delivery systems. Our most recent overview of hypericin's functions and potentials is meant to aid in this process.

Breast cancer remains the second most prevalent cancer among women in the United States. Despite advancements in surgical, radiological, and chemotherapeutic techniques, multidrug resistance continues to pose significant challenges in effective treatment. Combination chemotherapy has emerged as a promising approach to address these limitations, allowing multiple drugs to target malignancies via distinct mechanisms of action. Increasingly, the use of phytoconstituents alongside chemotherapeutic agents has shown promise in enhancing treatment outcomes. This combination therapy acts on key signaling pathways such as Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt/β- catenin, tyrosine kinases, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), which play critical roles in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, differentiation, invasion, and metastasis. This review explores various signaling pathways involved in breast cancer progression, discusses conventional treatment methods like surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy, and highlights emerging nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (DDS). Liposomes, dendrimers, exosomes, polymeric micelles, and nanoparticles (organic, inorganic, gold, magnetic, carbon-based, and quantum dots) are examined as innovative strategies for enhancing drug delivery efficacy. Furthermore, stimuli-responsive DDSs, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), enzyme-, and hypoxia- responsive systems, are presented as cutting-edge approaches to overcoming drug resistance. Special emphasis is placed on the co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and plant-based compounds, particularly in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of novel combinatorial strategies and advanced nanocarriers for the effective and targeted treatment of breast cancer.