Numerous natural products found in our diet, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, can prevent the progression of cancer. Luteolin, a natural flavone, present in significant amounts in various fruits and vegetables plays a key role as a chemopreventive agent in treating various types of cancer. By inducing apoptosis, initiating cell cycle arrest, and decreasing angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell proliferation, luteolin is used to treat cancer. Its anticancer properties are attributed to its capability to engage with multiple molecular targeted sites and modify various signaling pathways in tumor cells. Luteolin has been shown to slow the spread of cancer in breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, liver, skin, pancreatic, oral, and gastric cancer models. It exhibits antioxidant properties and can be given to patients receiving Doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy to prevent the development of unexpected adverse reactions in the lungs and hematopoietic system subjected to DOX. Furthermore, it could be an excellent candidate for synergistic studies to overcome drug resistance in cancer cells. Accordingly, this review covers the recent literature related to the use of luteolin against different types of cancer, along with the mechanisms of action. In addition, the review highlights luteolin as a complementary medicine for preventing and treating cancer.

Edible mushrooms are popular functional foods attributed to their rich nutritional bioactive constituent profile influencing cardiovascular function. Edible mushrooms are omnipresent in various prescribed Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Mediterranean diet, and fortified meal plans as they are rich in amino acids, dietary fiber, proteins, sterols, vitamins, and minerals. However, without an understanding of the influence of mushroom bioactive constituents, mechanism of action on heart and allergenicity, it is difficult to fully comprehend the role of mushrooms as dietary interventions in alleviating hypertension and other cardiovascular malfunctions. To accomplish this endeavor, we chose to review edible mushrooms and their bioactive constituents in ameliorating hypertension. Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are interrelated and if the former is managed by dietary changes, it is postulated that overall heart health could also be improved. With a concise note on different edible varieties of mushrooms, a particular focus is presented on the antihypertensive potential of mushroom bioactive constituents, mode of action, absorption kinetics and bioavailability. Ergosterol, lovastatin, cordycepin, tocopherols, chitosan, ergothioneine, γ‐aminobutyric acid, quercetin, and eritadenine are described as essential bioactives with hypotensive effects. Finally, safety concerns on allergens and limitations of consuming edible mushrooms with special reference to chemical toxins and their postulated metabolites are highlighted. It is opined that the present review will redirect toxicologists to further investigate mushroom bioactives and allergens, thereby influencing dietary interventions for heart health.

Nanotechnology and materials science are highly developing sectors where several new materials are investigated. One area includes iron oxide nanoparticles with superparamagnetic behavior. Since nanomaterials are prone to be associated with high levels of intrinsic toxicity and can have adverse effects if not properly guided. So, toxic mechanisms associated with nanomaterials are like that of a therapeutic drug or any other toxic compound. In that way, by ignoring the general pathways of cell death followed by the nanomaterials, the present report covers the points to control the growth of cancer cells by employing engineered nanoparticles (NPs) to induce therapeutic toxicity. We discuss the pathways for the induction of toxicity to the cancer cells using the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with and without surface ligands, and the ligand efficiency towards controlling toxicity is covered. Also, the therapeutic means of controlling the cancer cells, such as generating heat and releasing anticancer drugs in an externally organized manner, are also discussed. Overall, the report links the physical properties of SPIONs related to their natural or therapeutical toxicity by connecting physicochemical and toxicology principles.

Since ancient times, activated carbon (AC) has been known for its medicinal uses. Egyptians and Hippocrates used AC to treat epilepsy, vertigo, wounds, and anthrax. Due to its large surface area in the range of about 950–2000 m2 g−1 and high porosity, AC is an excellent adsorbent, especially for adsorbing toxins of high molecular masses. The medical uses of AC can be external-type or internal-type depending on the course of treatment administered to the patient. It is commonly used as a universal antidote for the poisoned human body, and in wound dressing materials and gas masks. Usually, AC is non-specific in its absorption capacity and thus can be used to remove almost all undesirable, unwanted, and even important metabolites from the body. Various routes for administering ‘medical grade’ AC have been widely studied, especially in the post-Chernobyl nuclear disaster cleanup. However, AC has limitations since it cannot be excreted easily from the human body. Also, AC may reduce the absorption of other oral drugs if administered in a combined dosage form. The present chapter discusses the use of AC in intoxication treatment, wound healing agents, and drug delivery systems with a detailed discussion on its cytotoxicity, limitations, and current scenario in medicine.