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Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 28121

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Muralikannan Maruthamuthu

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Guest Editor

UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Interests: bioremediation; synthetic biotechnology; microbial cell-surface display
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Nagendran Tharmalingam

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Guest Editor

Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School, and Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Interests: antimicrobials; colon cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Aruliah Rajasekar

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Environmental Molecular Microbiology Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Thiruvalluvar University, Serkkadu, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632 115, India
Interests: biodegradation; environmental engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The environment and public health are considered significant factors in determining a healthy society. Environmental deterioration due to human intervention leads to severe damage both to the environment and the health of humans, livestock, and water bodies. This environmental pollution is also one of the reasons for the microbial community that affects human health. Therefore, the development of antimicrobials is also in need to maintain a healthy society. Unfortunately, the link between environmental health and antimicrobials is not sufficiently explored in existing literature and research.

Furthermore, the need for bioactive molecules from synthetic and natural compounds, and their role in maintaining the environment and human health, are yet to be explored. Therefore, the development of antimicrobials from natural compounds to overcome antimicrobial resistance has also been an interesting research area in the last decade. This aim of this Special Issue is to increase understanding of synthesizing and exploring various natural compounds for:

Effective degradation of environmental pollutants;
Effective antimicrobial treatment against various resistance microbes.

In this Special Issue, we intend to collect contributions, including reviews and original articles, dealing with successful stories related to bioactive molecules for biodegradation and antimicrobials. The topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

Natural/synthetic antimicrobial compounds for bacteria and viruses;
New trends in developing antimicrobial agents;
Bioactive molecules for antimicrobial resistance microbes;
Bioactive molecules for degradation of organic pollutants;
Bioactive molecules for preventing biocorrosion in structures;
Bioactive molecules for degradation of tannery waste;
Bioactive molecules for degradation of heavy metals;
8. Bioactive whole-cell biocatalyst for recovery of heavy metals.

Dr. Muralikannan Maruthamuthu
Dr. Nagendran Tharmalingam
Dr. Aruliah Rajasekar
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Biodegradation
Antimicrobials
Biomolecules
Natural products
Heavy metals
Microbial products
Organic pollutants
Antimicrobial resistance

Published Papers (10 papers)

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22 pages, 3932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico Analysis and Functional Characterization of Antimicrobial and Insecticidal Vicilin from Moth Bean (Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal) Seeds

by Muhammad Ateeq, Muhammad Muzammal Adeel, Ayesha Kanwal, Muhammad Tahir ul Qamar, Ahsan Saeed, Binish Khaliq, Qamar Saeed, Muhammad Nauman Atiq, Muhammad Bilal, Metab Alharbi, Abdulrahman Alshammari and Ahmed Akrem

Molecules 2022, 27(10), 3251; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103251 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2433

Abstract

Vicilin has nutraceutical potential and different noteworthy medicative health-promoting biotic diversions, and it is remarkable against pathogenic microorganisms and insects. In this study, Vigna aconitifolia vicilin (VacV) has been identified and characterized from the seed of Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal (Moth beans). LC-MS/MS analysis of VacV provided seven random fragmented sequences comprising 238 residues, showing significant homology with already reported Vigna radiata vicilin (VraV). VacV was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation (60%) followed by size exclusion chromatography on Hi-Load 16/60 Superdex 200 pg column and anion-exchange chromatography (Hi trap Q FF column). Purified VacV showed a major ~50 kDa band and multiple lower bands on 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under both reduced and non-reduced conditions. After all, a three-dimensional molecular structure of VacV was predicted, which showed β-sheeted molecular conformation similar to crystallographic structure of VraV. All Vicilins from V. aconitifolia and other plants were divided into six sub-groups by phylogenetic analysis, and VacV shared a high degree of similarity with vicilins of Vigna radiata, Pisum sativum, Lupinus albus, Cicer arietinum and Glycine max. Additionally, VacV (20 μg) has significant growth inhibition against different pathogenic bacteria along strong antifungal activity (50 μg). Likewise, VacV (3.0 mg) produced significant growth reduction in Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae larvae after 9 days compared with control. Furthermore, by using MMT assay, the cytotoxicity effect of VacV on the growth of HepG2 liver cancerous cells was tested. VacV showed cytotoxicity against the HepG-2 line and the acquired value was 180 µg after 48 h. Finally, we performed molecular docking against caspase-3 protein (PDB ID: 3DEI) for VacV bioactive receptor interface residues. Hence, our results reveal that VacV, has nutraceutical potential and moth beans can be used as a rich resource of functional foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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14 pages, 1188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Investigation of the Impact of Bacterial–Fungal Interaction on Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

by Hani Moubasher, Amani Elkholy, May Sherif, Mariam Zahran and Sherif Elnagdy

Molecules 2022, 27(8), 2541; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27082541 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1843

Abstract

Fungal–bacterial co-culturing is a potential technique for the production of secondary metabolites with antibacterial activity. Twenty-nine fungal species were screened in a co-culture with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae at different temperatures. A temperature of 37 ° showed inhibition of bacterial growth. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for K. pneumoniae was conducted to compare antibiotic resistance patterns before and after the co-culture. Genotypic comparison of the K. pneumonia was performed using next generation sequencing (NGS). It was shown that two out of five K. pneumoniae, with sequence type ST 101 isolates, lost bla-_OXA48, bla-_CTX-M-14, tir, strA and strB genes after the co-culture with Scopulariopsis brevicaulis fungus. The other three isolates (ST 383 and 147) were inhibited in the co-culture but did not show any changes in resistance. The total ethyl acetate extract of the fungal–bacterial co-culture was tested against K. pneumoniae using a disc diffusion method. The concentration of the crude extract was 0.97 mg/µL which resulted in total inhibition of the bacteria. Using chromatographic techniques, the purified compounds were identified as 11-octadecenoic acid, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, 2,3-Butanediol and 9-octadecenamide. These were tested against K. pneumoniae using the well diffusion method at a concentration of 85 µg/µL which resulted in total inhibition of bacteria. The co-culture results indicated that bacteria under chemical stress showed variable responses and induced fungal secondary metabolites with antibacterial activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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26 pages, 14818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plant-Derived Antiviral Compounds as Potential Entry Inhibitors against Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Wild-Type and Delta Variant: An Integrative in SilicoApproach

by Jenifer Mallavarpu Ambrose, Malathi Kullappan, Shankargouda Patil, Khalid J. Alzahrani, Hamsa Jameel Banjer, Fadi S. I. Qashqari, A. Thirumal Raj, Shilpa Bhandi, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Selvaraj Jayaraman, Durairaj Sekar, Alok Agarwal, Korla Swapnavahini and Surapaneni Krishna Mohan

Molecules 2022, 27(6), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27061773 - 08 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2475

Abstract

The wild-type SARS-CoV-2 has continuously evolved into several variants with increased transmissibility and virulence. The Delta variant which was initially identified in India created a devastating impact throughout the country during the second wave. While the efficacy of the existing vaccines against the latest SARS-CoV-2 variants remains unclear, extensive research is being carried out to develop potential antiviral drugs through approaches like in silico screening and drug-repurposing. This study aimed to conduct the docking-based virtual screening of 50 potential phytochemical compounds against a Spike glycoprotein of the wild-type and the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Subsequently, molecular docking was performed for the five best compounds, such as Lupeol, Betulin, Hypericin, Corilagin, and Geraniin, along with synthetic controls. From the results obtained, it was evident that Lupeol exhibited a remarkable binding affinity towards the wild-type Spike protein (−8.54 kcal/mol), while Betulin showed significant binding interactions with the mutated Spike protein (−8.83 kcal/mol), respectively. The binding energy values of the selected plant compounds were slightly higher than that of the controls. Key hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions of the resulting complexes were visualized, which explained their greater binding affinity against the target proteins—the Delta S protein of SARS-CoV-2, in particular. The lower RMSD, the RMSF values of the complexes and the ligands, Rg, H-bonds, and the binding free energies of the complexes together revealed the stability of the complexes and significant binding affinities of the ligands towards the target proteins. Our study suggests that Lupeol and Betulin could be considered as potential ligands for SARS-CoV-2 spike antagonists. Further experimental validations might provide new insights for the possible antiviral therapeutic interventions of the identified lead compounds and their analogs against COVID-19 infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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12 pages, 14394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Favors Runx2-Mediated Matrix Mineralization in HOS and SaOS2 Cells: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach

by Ramajayam Govindan, Mohamed El-Sherbiny, Khalid Mohamed Morsy Ibraheem, Srinivasan Narasimhan, Mohamed EL-Dosoky Mohamed Salama, Fazil Ahmad, Selvaraj Jayaraman, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Srinivasan Vengadassalapathy, Surapaneni Krishna Mohan, Vidhya Rekha Umapathy, Gayathri Rengasamy, Shazia Fathima Jaffer Hussain, Maheshkumar Poomarimuthu and Senthilkumar Kalimuthu

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 613; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030613 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that is both systemic and silent characterized by an unbalanced activity of bone remodeling leading to bone loss. Rising evidences demonstrate that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) has an important role in the regulation on the metabolism of bone. However, TSH regulation on human osteoblast essential transcriptional factors has not been identified. Current study examined the role of TSH on human osteoblastic Runx2 expression and their functional genes by in vitro and in slico analysis. Human osteoblast like (HOS and SaoS-2) cells were cultured with DMEM and treated with hTSH at the concentration of 0.01 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL. After treatment, osteoblastic Runx2 and IGF-1R beta expression were studied using RT-PCR and western blot analysis. TSH treatment induced osteoblastic essential transcriptional factor, Runx2 in HOS and SaOS2 cells on 48 h duration and elevated the expression of IGF-IR β gene and Protein in SaoS-2 cells. TSH also promotes Runx2 responsive genes such as ALP, Collagen and osteocalcin in SaOS2 cells on day 2 to day 14 of 10 ng/mL of treatment and favors’ matrix mineralization matrix in these cells. In addition, TSH facilitated human osteoblastic cells to mineralize their matrix confirmed by day 21 of alizarin red calcium staining. In silico study was performed to check CREB and ELK1 interaction with Runx2. Results of in silico analysis showed that TSH mediated signalling molecules such as CREB and ELK1 showed interaction with Runx2 which involve in osteobalstic gene expression and differentiation. Present findings confirm that TSH promotes Runx2 expression, osteoblastic responsive genes and bone matrix formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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22 pages, 5476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stevioside Attenuates Insulin Resistance in Skeletal Muscle by Facilitating IR/IRS-1/Akt/GLUT 4 Signaling Pathways: An In Vivo and In Silico Approach

by Abilasha Deenadayalan, Vijayalakshmi Subramanian, Vijayalakshmi Paramasivan, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Gayathri Rengasamy, Janaki Coiambatore Sadagopan, Ponnulakshmi Rajagopal and Selvaraj Jayaraman

Molecules 2021, 26(24), 7689; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247689 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3522

Abstract

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the leading global health burden of this century majorly develops due to obesity and hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscles. Hence, developing novel drugs that ameliorate these pathological events is an immediate priority. The study was designed to analyze the possible role of Stevioside, a characteristic sugar from leaves of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) on insulin signaling molecules in gastrocnemius muscle of obesity and hyperglycemia-induced T2DM rats. Adult male Wistar rats rendered diabetic by administration of high fat diet (HFD) and sucrose for 60 days were orally administered with SIT (20 mg/kg/day) for 45 days. Various parameters were estimated including fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzymes and expression of insulin signaling molecules in diabetic gastrocnemius muscle. Stevioside treatment improved glucose and insulin tolerances in diabetic rats and restored their elevated levels of FBG, serum insulin and lipid profile to normalcy. In diabetic gastrocnemius muscles, Setvioside normalized the altered levels of lipid peroxidase (LPO), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radical (OH*), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx and GSH) and molecules of insulin signaling including insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Akt mRNA levels. Furthermore, Stevioside enhanced glucose uptake (GU) and oxidation in diabetic muscles by augmenting glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) synthesis very effectively in a similar way to metformin. Results of molecular docking analysis evidenced the higher binding affinity with IRS-1 and GLUT 4. Stevioside effectively inhibits oxidative stress and promotes glucose uptake in diabetic gastrocnemius muscles by activating IR/IRS-1/Akt/GLUT 4 pathway. The results of the in silico investigation matched those of the in vivo study. Hence, Stevioside could be considered as a promising phytomedicine to treat T2DM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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16 pages, 2233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactive Molecules of Mandarin Seed Oils Diminish Mycotoxin and the Existence of Fungi

by Salman S. Alharthi, Ahmed Noah Badr, Karolina Gromadzka, Kinga Stuper-Szablewska, Adel Gabr Abdel-Razek and Khaled Selim

Molecules 2021, 26(23), 7130; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26237130 - 25 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1574

Abstract

Mandarin is a favorite fruit of the citrus family. Mandarin seeds are considered a source of nontraditional oil obtained from byproduct materials. This investigation aimed to assess the biomolecules of mandarin seeds and evaluated their antimycotic and antimycotoxigenic impact on fungi. Moreover, it evaluated the protective role of mandarin oil against aflatoxin toxicity in cell lines. The two types of extracted oil (fixed and volatile) were ecofriendly. The fatty acid composition, tocopherol, sterols, and carotenoids were determined in the fixed oil, whereas volatiles and phenolics were estimated in the essential oil. A mixture of the two oils was prepared and evaluated for its antimicrobial impact. The reduction effect of this mixture was also investigated to reduce mycotoxin secretion using a simulated experiment. The protective effect of the oil was evaluated using healthy strains of cell lines. Fixed oil was distinguished by the omega fatty acid content (76.24%), lutein was the major carotenoid (504.3 mg/100 g) and it had a high β-sitosterol content (294.6 mg/100 g). Essential oil contained limonene (66.05%), α-pinene (6.82%), β-pinene (4.32%), and γ-terpinene (12.31%) in significant amounts, while gallic acid and catechol were recorded as the dominant phenolics. Evaluation of the oil mix for antimicrobial potency reflected a considerable impact against pathogenic bacteria and toxigenic fungi. By its application to the fungal media, this oil mix possessed a capacity for reducing mycotoxin secretion. The oil mix was also shown to have a low cytotoxic effect against healthy strains of cell lines and had potency in reducing the mortality impact of aflatoxin B₁ applied to cell lines. These results recommend further study to involve this oil in food safety applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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19 pages, 6415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Triterpenoids from Cassia fistula Stem Bark Depreciates STZ-Induced Detrimental Changes in IRS-1/Akt-Mediated Insulin Signaling Mechanisms in Type-1 Diabetic Rats

by Sabapathy Indu, Periyasamy Vijayalakshmi, Jayaraman Selvaraj and Manikkam Rajalakshmi

Molecules 2021, 26(22), 6812; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26226812 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1966

Abstract

Here, we identified the mechanisms of action of antidiabetic activity of novel compounds isolated from Cassia fistula stem bark in STZ-diabetic animals. Novel triterpenoid compounds (C1, C2 and C3) were treated to STZ-administered diabetic animals at a concentration of 20mg/kg body weight orally for 60 days to assess their effects on plasma glucose, plasma insulin/C-peptide, serum lipid markers and the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, glucose oxidation and insulin signaling molecules. Oral administration of novel triterpenoid compounds to STZ-diabetic animals significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the plasma glucose concentration on the 7th, 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th daysin a duration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Plasma insulin (p < 0.0001)/C-peptide (p < 0.0006), tissue glycogen (p < 0.0034), glycogen phosphorylase (p < 0.005), glucose 6-phosphatase (p < 0.0001) and lipid markers were significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in diabetic rats, whereas glucokinase (p < 0.0047), glycogen synthase (p < 0.003), glucose oxidation (p < 0.001), GLUT4 mRNA (p < 0.0463), GLUT4 protein (p < 0.0475) and the insulin-signaling molecules IR mRNA (p < 0.0195), IR protein (p < 0.0001), IRS-1 mRNA (p < 0.0478), p-IRS-1^Tyr612 (p < 0.0185), Akt mRNA (p < 0.0394), p–Akt^Ser473 (p < 0.0162), GLUT4 mRNA (p < 0.0463) and GLUT4 (p < 0.0475) were decreased in the gastrocnemius muscle. In silico analysis of C1–C3 with IRK and PPAR-γ protein coincided with in vivo findings. C1–C3 possessed promising antidiabetic activity by regulating insulin signaling mechanisms and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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19 pages, 19482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Studies on the Nephroprotective Potential of Celastrus paniculatus against Lead-Acetate-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Experimental Rats: Role of the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

by Karunakaran Balaji, Jagadish Vijayakumar, Ponnusamy Kasirajan Sankaran, Sivanesan Senthilkumar, Rajagopalan Vijayaraghavan, Jayaraman Selvaraj and Maria Francis Yuvaraj

Molecules 2021, 26(21), 6647; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216647 - 02 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1949

Abstract

Chemicals can induce nephrotoxicity, with damage to different segments of the nephron and deterioration of renal function. Nephrotoxicity due to exposure to a toxin such as carbon tetrachloride, sodium oxalate, or heavy metals is the most common cause of kidney injury. The current study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Celastrus paniculatus seed extract against lead-acetate-induced nephrotoxicity by evaluating the histopathology, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 per group): group 1 contained normal animals and served as the control; group 2 received lead acetate (30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)/day, oral); group 3 received lead acetate and the standard drug N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 200 mg/kg b.w./day, oral); and group 4 received lead acetate and the ethanolic extract of C. paniculatus seed (EECP; 800 mg/kg b.w./day, oral). Treatment was given for 28 consecutive days. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with SIGMA PLOT 13 using SYSTAT software followed by Newman–Keul’s test for comparison between the groups. EECP ameliorated the adverse changes caused by lead acetate. PI3K and AKT messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were diminished in lead-acetate-treated rats. Treatment with EECP inhibited the occurrence of shrunken cells, the atrophy of glomeruli, and degenerative changes in renal tubules caused by lead acetate. Interestingly, the PI3K and AKT mRNA levels were significantly increased in EECP-treated animals. Our results clearly evidence for the first time that C. paniculatus seed extract inhibits lead-acetate-induced detrimental changes in kidneys by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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Review

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17 pages, 1725 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytosterols in Insulin Resistance: A Mechanistic Approach

by Monisha Prasad, Selvaraj Jayaraman, Mohamed Ahmed Eladl, Mohamed El-Sherbiny, Mosaab Abdella Ebrahim Abdelrahman, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Srinivasan Vengadassalapathy, Vidhya Rekha Umapathy, Shazia Fathima Jaffer Hussain, Kalaiselvi Krishnamoorthy, Durairaj Sekar, Chella Perumal Palanisamy, Surapaneni Krishna Mohan and Ponnulakshmi Rajagopal

Molecules 2022, 27(5), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051595 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6175

Abstract

Natural products in the form of functional foods have become increasingly popular due to their protective effects against life-threatening diseases, low risk of adverse effects, affordability, and accessibility. Plant components such as phytosterol, in particular, have drawn a lot of press recently due to a link between their consumption and a modest incidence of global problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In the management of diet-related metabolic diseases, such as T2DM and cardiovascular disorders, these plant-based functional foods and nutritional supplements have unquestionably led the market in terms of cost-effectiveness, therapeutic efficacy, and safety. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder categoriszed by high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which influence major metabolic organs, such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. These chronic hyperglycemia fallouts result in decreased glucose consumption by body cells, increased fat mobilisation from fat storage cells, and protein depletion in human tissues, keeping the tissues in a state of crisis. In addition, functional foods such as phytosterols improve the body’s healing process from these crises by promoting a proper physiological metabolism and cellular activities. They are plant-derived steroid molecules having structure and function similar to cholesterol, which is found in vegetables, grains, nuts, olive oil, wood pulp, legumes, cereals, and leaves, and are abundant in nature, along with phytosterol derivatives. The most copious phytosterols seen in the human diet are sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which can be found in free form, as fatty acid/cinnamic acid esters or as glycosides processed by pancreatic enzymes. Accumulating evidence reveals that phytosterols and diets enriched with them can control glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as insulin resistance. Despite this, few studies on the advantages of sterol control in diabetes care have been published. As a basis, the primary objective of this review is to convey extensive updated information on the possibility of managing diabetes and associated complications with sterol-rich foods in molecular aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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9 pages, 569 KiB

Open AccessReview

Deciphering the Role of MicroRNAs in Neuroblastoma

by Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Selvaraj Jayaraman, Gayathri Rengasamy, Ullas Mony, Dhanraj M Ganapathy, Royapuram Veeraragavan Geetha and Durairaj Sekar

Molecules 2022, 27(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010099 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2741

Abstract

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a type of peripheral sympathetic nervous system cancer that most commonly affects children. It is caused by the improper differentiation of primitive neural crest cells during embryonic development. Although NB occurs for 8% of paediatric cancers, it accounts for 15% of cancer-related deaths. Despite a considerable increase in cytotoxic chemo- and radiotherapy, patients in advanced stages remain virtually incurable. Therefore, there is a desperate necessity for new treatment strategies to be investigated. Accumulating evidence suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with 19–25 nucleotides lengths and play a central role in the development of NB carcinogenesis. Fascinatingly, miRNA inhibitors have an antisense property that can inhibit miRNA function and suppress the activity of mature miRNA. However, many studies have addressed miRNA inhibition in the treatment of NB, but their molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways are yet to be analysed. In this study, we impart the current state of knowledge about the role of miRNA inhibition in the aetiology of NB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules for Biodegradation and Antimicrobials)

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